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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 and up to the end of 1966
some 620 Greenwich babies had been so vaccinated. 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. and current opinion is that
universal measles vaccination is imminent.
During 1963, an enquiry into measles conducted by the Public
Health Laboratory Service had shown that out of 1,000 cases 38
developed bronchitis or pneumonia and 25 otitis media. Neurological
disturbance, mostly transitory but some serious, occurred
in 4 cases per 1,000. From 1962 to 1966, there were no fewer than
434 deaths attributed to measles, a hundred more than those from
diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and smallpox during the
same period.
The evolution of a safe, effective measles vaccine and its acceptance
universally for treatment of vulnerable groups promises results
similar to those obtained with regard to smallpox and diphtheria
which have virtually eliminated them from the community. Suffering
and family distress will be relieved and the practical and
financial advantages to the country's hospital, nursing and pharmaceutical
services will be incalculable.
Scarlet Fever
There were 76 notified cases in 1967, one of which was not confirmed.
The total of 75 shows an increase of 32 over that of the
previous year.
Three cases were admitted to hospital but there were no deaths.
Whooping Cough
The 163 notified cases registered in 1967 show an increase of 67
over those of the previous year.
Six cases were removed to hospital, of whom three were nonresidents,
and no fatality was recorded.
With regard to prophylaxis, one child received a combined
antigen (whooping cough and diphtheria) and a further 3,101
received a triple antigen (whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus)
giving a final total of 3,102 whooping cough immunisations carried
out during the current year. Of these, 395 were effected by local
general practitioners who were also responsible for giving 332
reinforcing doses out of a total of 2,505.