View report page

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
2.—Diphtheria Immunisation Clinics (provided by the
Council).
In the second half of the year 1944, that is from the
beginning of July to the end of the year, as a result of the
flying bomb attacks and the evacuation of children, very little
immunisation was being carried out. Only 155 under 5 and
94 between 5 and 15 were completed during this period. It is
to be expected, therefore, that the total for the year will be
below previous years. The actual totals are 438 under five
and 241 between 5 and 15.
The present policy with regard to immunisation is to
concentrate on the 1—2 group. It is obvious that if a high
percentage of this group—which in our area should number
about a thousand—can be immunised each year, it will only
be a matter of a few years before all the under five population
can be kept at a high percentage by exclusive attention to this
group; and it is this group that should be least protected
being in an interim period between the waning inherited
acquired immunity by virtue of the stock of maternal blood
with which they started life and the minimal development of
an active immunity by response to subpathogenic infective
stimuli.
It is also the practice to advise the boosting dose at
about 4½ years of age to raise the protection to its highest
level at the moment of leaving the sheltered environment of
the home for the wider contact and multiplied opportunities
of infection of school life.

In addition to these sessions, injections' are given at the
ordinary Infant Welfare Sessions.
21