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Only 15 cases, 4 of whom were non-resident, were removed to
hospital. There were no deaths recorded.
Prior to 1954, no vaccine against measles was available for the
virus causing the disease had not been isolated. However, protection
could be afforded by the antibodies contained in gamma globulin
prepared from the blood of persons who had already had an attack
of measles. This kind of protection had a very limited life and,
moreover, it was very expensive. Since then, much research has been
carried out and new vaccines, free of the undesirable reactions of
the earlier types, have been developed. Under the control of the
Medical Research Council, a limited scheme for vaccination with a
new vaccine was introduced during 1964. Up to the end of 1965
some 620 Greenwich babies were so vaccinated and, during the
current year, information concerning notified cases born between
1st November, 1962, and 31st December, 1963, continued to be
furnished monthly to the M.R.C.
Scarlet Fever
There were 43 notified cases in 1966, a total which shows a fall
of 68 from the previous year when Greenwich recorded 111.
One of three cases removed to hospital was resident outside the
Borough and no fatality was recorded.
Whooping Cough
Altogether 96 notifications were received in 1966, an increase
of 26 over those of the previous year.
Fourteen cases were removed to hospital, of whom three were
non-residents, and there were no deaths.
With regard to prophylaxis, eight children received a combined
antigen (whooping cough and diphtheria) and a further 3,378
received a triple antigen (whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus)
giving a final total of 3,386 whooping cough immunisations carried
out during the current year.
Diphtheria
During the year under review the sole notification received was
not confirmed and there were no notifications registered during 1965.
During the year, 3,768 primary immunisations were completed
in the Borough of which 298 were effected by general practitioners.
Most diphtheria immunisations which are given form part of a
combined antigen therapy and, in addition to these primary treatments,
some 7,537 reinforcing doses were given, 374 of which were
carried out by local doctors.
Antitoxin.—Since January, 1949, arrangements have been
made for a small stock of diphtheria antitoxin to be held at St.
Alfege's Hospital for use by general practitioners in emergencies.