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17
It is interesting, once again, to note the regular habits of the Measles cycle
which is clearly seen in the following chart showing figures relating to notifications
received during the past ten years.
I am pleased to be able to report that no confirmed cases of Diphtheria were
notified during the year.
Contacts and Carriers of Infectious Disease—Sickness Benefit
No certificates were issued during the year in this connection.
Immunisation and Vaccination
This work is organised from the No. 1 Divisional Health Office of the London
County Council, which serves the boroughs of Chelsea, Fulham, Hammersmith
and Kensington.
Prevention of Diphtheria, Whooping Cough and Tetanus
The majority of children are immunised against these diseases, the proportion
of those in the 1-4 years age group being approximately 80 per cent. A total of
12,060 children within the Borough were protected during the year against tetanus,
14,702 against diphtheria and 8,727 against whooping cough.
Prevention of Smallpox
Smallpox vaccination continues to be offered to children during the first two
years of their life and in the No. 1 Division this year 1,287 children received primary
vaccination and 501 re-vaccinations were performed.
Speed of travel in the modern world enhances the likelihood of an infected
traveller gaining entry to this country and spreading the disease. Such an event-
uality can be dealt with by the use of outbreak control measures only if the majority
of the population have previously been vaccinated. Re-vaccination diminishes the
risk of complications and provides more speedy protection than primary vaccination,
particularly in adults.
When a safe and effective vaccine which causes no complications is finally
perfected, its 100 per cent. use in infancy will ensure that even in the supersonic
age we shall have a good chance of maintaining our comparative immunity to this
dread disease.