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9
In January. 1958 - Children born In 1943 to 1946 Inclusive.
Expectant mothers. Children of six
months of age or over. General
practitioners and their families. London
Ambulance Service personnel.
In November. 1958 - Young people born in 1933 or later.
Hospital staffs coming into contact
with poliomyelitis patients, medical
students and the families of these
groups of persons.
Third injections to be offered not less
than seven months after the second
inje ction.
The Divisional Medical Officer has also kindly supplied
the figures of persons immunised in 1958:-
Poliomyelitis Immunisation
Children 5282
Adults 489
The degree of protection given by poliomyelitis
vaccination is still somewhat uncertain. That it gives some
protection is beyond doubt but the near 100 per cent, protection
given by diphtheria and smallpox vaccination is probably not
achieved. The length of time that protection lasts is also in
doubt and must remain so until sufficient time has elapsed to
enable some evaluation to be made.
At the time of writing this report (April, 1959) the
response of the young adults to the offer of immunisation had
been disappointing until the death of a well known footballer
from poliomyelitis. A great deal of publicity on a national
scale followed this unfortunate event and there was a great
increase in the numbers of persons attending for immunisation,
particularly at the open sessions arranged by the London County
Council. It seems somewhat ironical that a man must die before
the public will accept protection which is offered and particularly
so in this case where the footballer was in fact slightly
above the present age limits for immunisation.
The number of persons vaccinated against smallpox was:-
Smallpox - Primary Vaccination
Children 945
Adults 12