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VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION (Section 26)
Vaccination and immunisation is available at all Child Welfare
Clinics, but in the majority of cases is carried out by the family
doctor.
Intensive propaganda, both personal on the part of clinic doctors
and Health Visitors, and by means of leaflets and birthday cards, is
maintained to ensure that all infants are immunised against Diphtheria.
During the past 10 years the incidence of this disease has
fallen to a minimum with the result that never having experienced
it, present day parents tend to become complacent, and to postpone
immunisation. Nevertheless it is estimated that 75—80 per cent of
children are being protected. It is impossible to give an accurate
figure as many practitioners do not trouble to claim the small fee
available to them for recording the immunisation. Primary immunisation
is usually carried out during the 6th—9th month, and a
"booster" dose is given at 5 years, on entry to school.
Immunisation against whooping cough is normally carried out from
the 3rd to 6th month.
The number of children who completed a full course of primary
immunisation against diphtheria during the year is set out below:—
Under 5 years of age 593
5 to 15 years of age 62
655
The number of children who received a secondary or re-inforcing
injection was 577.
•
The number of persons vaccinated or re-vaccinated during the
year 1956 was:—
Under 1 1—4 yrs 5—14 yrs. 15 or over Total
Primary 270 154 54 71 549
Re-vaccination Nil 5 25 177 207