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
Kensington 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Diphtheria Immunisation.
The following table shows the diphtheria immunisation work carried out during the year:-
| Pre-school children immunised | 1,471 |
| School children immunised | 345 |
| Children attending for pre-immunisation Schick tests | 414 |
| No, who gave positive re-action | 174 |
| Children attending for schick tests after being immunised | 2,896 |
| Number proving negative | 2,554 |
| Number proving positive | 212 |
| Number who failed to attend for readings | 130 |
| Number of "re-inforcing" doses given to immunised children | 495 |
On 14th November, 1945, the Minister of Health issued
Circulars 193/45 and 194/45, placing the responsibility for
immunising children under school age upon Welfare Authorities,
and recommending that (a) each health visitor should be responsible
for securing the immunisation of children under school age in her
district, (b) the adoption of a standardised record card for each
child immunised, and (c) the form of annual return to be made at
the end of each year of immunisation work carried out in relation
to the child population.
Following these circulars, each health visitor was
instructed to keep a record book showing every notified birth in
her district, and a day by day record as to whether such children
had been immunised or not. This book is examined periodically
(not less frequently than once a quarter) when every child who has
attained the age of 1 year is checked to see whether it has
been immunised, and, if not, the reason for the failure.
The figures for 1947 in regard to immunisation of the child population already supplied to the Minister are as follows:-
| Age of children at 31st Dec., 1947. | Total number immunised. |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 475 |
| Between 1 and 2 years | 1,043 |
| II 2 " 3 " | 15575 |
| 11 3 „ 4 11 | 911 |
| 11 4 " 5 " | 898 |
| 11 5 " 9 " | 5,770 |
| " 9 " 15 " | 5,785 |
| Total. | 15,578 |
Estimated child population for the
borough in mid-year 1947:
Up to 5 years 9,680
Between 5 and 15 13,570
Acute Rheumatism in Children.
Acute rheumatism in children under 16 years of age has
been a notifiable disease in Kensington since 1927. The
Council established a rheumatism supervisory centre at the
Princess Louise Hospital and this continued to operate up to
the outbreak of war in 1939, when the hospital closed.