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16
Vaccination.
There were 2,352 births in 1934 reported to the vaccination officer. By the 31st December, 1935,
67.5 per cent. of these had been vaccinated. The other 32.5 per cent, are accounted for as follows
Statutory declarations of objection 15 per cent.
Died before vaccination 5 ,,
Referred to other boroughs 7 ,,
Removed, leaving no trace5 ,,
Unaccounted for 0.5 ,,
In view of the fact that throughout the country generally only about 37 per cent, of the children
born are vaccinated, the Kensington return must be regarded as highly satisfactory. Only 15.5 per
cent, of the children born in Kensington in 1934 remain in the borough unvaccinated. Whilst this
percentage of vaccinations is maintained at such a high level, the immunity from smallpox in
Kensington should remain at a correspondingly high standard.
A record of the work of the vaccination officer will be found in Appendix II, Table VI.
Health Propaganda.
Health propaganda work, as in past years, was conducted by the council's health lecturer at the
infant welfare centres and the baby clinic. Lectures were also given at two of the nursery schools
in the borough, the Lancaster Road Fathers' Council, girl guide and boy scout groups, the First
Feathers Club, and to other organisations. The subject of the health lecturer's talks to most of the
organisations has been the council's maternity and child welfare services.
In April and May, 1935, there was a fall in the number of children being immunised against
diphtheria by the general medical practitioners in the borough, and this was particularly noticeable
in regard to school-children. It was felt that if it were possible to obtain the interest of the head
teachers, they would be able to assist materially in the council's immunisation scheme. A conference
of the head teachers was arranged at the town hall, when His Worship the Mayor took the chair and
the medical officer of health explained the council's scheme to the 40 teachers present. Dr. Guy
Bousfield, the council's schick testing consultant, showed a film called " The Empty Bed," which
deals with diphtheria immunisation. The meeting was a great success and revealed a warm desire
for close co-operation. The film impressed the teachers enormously, and they unanimously passed
a resolution indicating they were in favour of its being shown to parents, and willingly consented to
arrange the distribution of leaflets dealing with the subject. Over 13,000 leaflets were distributed
throughout the schools in the borough. A committee of head teachers and representatives of the
public health department was formed, and a series of lectures and film displays was arranged for 1936.
Following the head teachers' conference, the council purchased a film projector and a copy of the
film prepared by Dr. Bousfield. The film was shown in alternate weeks at all the infant welfare centres
and the baby clinic. In addition, other films on health subjects, which were lent to the council,
were shown at these institutions. The diphtheria film was also shown at many other institutions.
It is satisfacory to record that the parents showed a considerable interest in the film and that as a
result the number of children immunised against diphtheria showed a steady increase.
Early in the year the maternity and child welfare committee decided to advertise the council's
maternity and child welfare services, and permission was obtained from the London county council
to use the empire marketing board advertisement frames at the Fox school and the Lancaster Road
school for the months of June, July and August. Suitable posters were exhibited on these frames
and on the empire marketing board frame outside the Kensington barracks, giving the days and times
of the consultations at the infant welfare centres, together with information in regard to other
maternity and child welfare services.
On her first visit to a home after the birth of a child the health visitor delivers a small booklet
of about 20 pages entitled " Advice to Mothers," which deals with domestic and personal hygiene
and other matters of importance to the young mother. There is also in the public health department
a series of leaflets on health questions which are distributed by the staff during their home visits.
A record of the work of the health lecturer will be found on page 32.