View report page

19
[1937
in Scholefield Road became available in October, and it was decided that since
a considerable proportion of requests came from the Northern part of the Borough,
this would justify the extra clinic session being held in the Nursery building. This
arrangement proved very convenient to a considerable number of parents and the
percentage of absentees at this clinic is very small indeed. The other clinic is
continued as arranged in the first place at the Town Hall.
During the year there are also to be recorded two minor outbreaks in the Northern
part of the Borough. In the early autumn the occurrence of a succession of cases
of Diphtheria in an Institution for girls caused considerable anxiety to those in
charge of the home, and the Public Health Department was asked to advise.
Following an investigation, the whole of the girls and staff to the number of 51
were Schick-tested at the Town Hall, and the susceptible ones as discovered by the
test were given immunising injections by the Medical Officer to the Home. Swabbing
also indicated several possible carriers and these were isolated and one case removed
to hospital until they were certified to be free of virulent germs.
During the latter part of the Autumn an undue proportion of cases of Diphtheria
occurred in one of the Council's blocks of flats. As soon as this became apparent
the attention of every single family with children in this block was drawn to the
Council's facilities for protection. As a result of this, together with the enthusiastic
co-operation of Miss Keith, the Assistant Housing Manager, Consent Cards were
returned for 115 of the children residing in the flats, i.e., approximately 50 per cent.
The material used for the large majority of children is Alum Precipitated
Toxoid in two doses. In the case of older children and those showing undue
re-action after the first injection of A.P.T., Toxoid Anti-toxin Floccules is used as
the immunising agent. All cases, of course, are post Schick-tested, but only the
older children are Ante Schick-tested.
The report of the work done at the Immunisation Clinics is presented below:—
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION CLINICS.
Report for Year 1937.
Total number of sessions— 46 at Town Hall, 5 at Miriam
Price Coleman Day Nursery 51
Total attendances at clinics 2,026
Average attendance per session 39'7
New cases commenced 518
Cases immunised and completed 281
Children Schick-negative after two injections 276
Children Schick-positive after two injections and Schick-
negative after three injections 5
Children ante-Schick-tested and found positive 145
Children ante-Schick-tested and found negative 105
Cases commenced elsewhere and referred to I.B.C. for
completion 31
Number of children who contracted Diphtheria
(a) After injections, but before re-Schick test 1
(b) After a negative finding Nil
Age Group Summary of Cases Immunised and Completed.
1-4 years 155
5 and 6 years 87
7 years and over 39
Total 281