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PROPHYLAXIS
Every effort continued to ensure that as many children as possible were immunised against
diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and smallpox, protection being given by the
family doctor, at one of the Council's child welfare centres or through the school health service.
Prom 1 July 1966 the following revised schedule of immunisation was adopted:-
Ideal age Immunisation against
3 months Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus - Poliomyelitis
4 months Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus - Poliomyelitis
5 months Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus - Poliomyelitis
17 months Smallpox
18 months Diphtheria/Whooping Cough/Tetanus - Poliomyelitis
4½-5 years Diphtheria/Tetanus - Poliomyelitis
The immunisation follow-up scheme, by which a periodic check is made by the health
visitors that the recommended immunisation has been given to each child under 5 years, continued
to operate.
In July 1966 an experiment began at one welfare centre whereby all forms of immunisation
by subcutaneous injection were undertaken by state registered nurses. This scheme was subject
to certain safeguards, viz. that every immunisation course was prescribed for each individual child
by a doctor, that a doctor was on the premises at the time of the injection, and that only state
registered nurses might undertake the injections. Before any injection the nurse enquired whether
the child had shown any reaction to any previous injection and whether the child had been unwell
in any way; in the event of any affirmative answers the nurse did not give the injection and the
child was referred to the doctor. The experiment worked smoothly, reduced waiting periods and
gave the medical staff more time to undertake developmental examinations and consultations. It
was accordingly decided to extend the scheme to other child welfare centres.
The Council continued to provide yellow fever vaccinations; this is carried out by a
medical officer, employed part-time by the Council, at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, who
issues the appropriate international certificates. No charge is made for the service, which is not
confined to residents in the Borough. In the year 1966 the number of persons receiving yellow fever
vaccination totalled 7,779.