London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Brentford and Chiswick 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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It will be noted that 360 children under 1 year of age were vaccinated out
of 824 born during the year, i.e. 43.7%. This figure is falling each year i.e.
in 1953 55% of infants under one year were vaccinated, in 1954 50%. in 1955
47. 5%, and now 43.7% in 1956.
Scarlet Fever
There was again a slight reduction in the number of cases of scarlet fever
notified and confirmed as such, the figures being 46 in 1956 as compared with
48 in 1955. 28 of these cases were admitted to hospital.
In two instances a second case occurred in the household in which a previous
case had been notified,
Diphtheria
No cases of diphtheria were notified during the year. The last confirmed
case of diphtheria in the Borough occurred in 1948
Information concerning immunisation against diphtheria in the Borough during 1956 has been supplied by the County Medical Officer, and is as follows:-
| Number of children who | Age | Tota1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | l | 2-4 | 5-14 | ||
| 341 | 120 | 34 | 11 | 506 | |
| 197 | 151 | 348 | |||
Number of children at 31, 12 56 who had completed a course of diphtheria immunisation at any time before that date (i.e. at any time since 1.1.42).
| Age at 31.12. 56 i.e. born in year | Under 1 19 56 | 1 - 4 1955 52 | 5 - 9 1951 - 47 | 10 - 14 1946 - 42 | Total under 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 1,897 | 2. 483 | 1,043 | 5, 540 | |
| - | - | 839 | 1,988 | 2, 827 |
The figures for immunisation against diphtheria show a slight improvement
in 1956. The number of primary immunisations in 1956 was 506 as compared with
463 in 1955, but is still considerably below previous years. It is considered
that in order to prevent the risk of diphtheria again becoming a danger in the
event of a case occurring, the proportion of school children who should be immunised
should be not less than 75%.
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