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In 1953 I was able to report that for the first time on record there had been
no case of diphtheria, and of course, no deaths from this cause in the Borough.
Although there was one confirmed case reported in 1953, this was not, strictly
speaking, a case, but a contact who was a carrier, remaining in good health. It
could therefore be said, strictly, that 1953 was the second successive year when no
children or other person became ill through contracting diphtheria. This happy
outcome, as compared with previous years up to very recently, must be ascribed
to widespread immunisation. It will be seen from the table given that although
a considerable number of Islington children are immunised every year, there still
remains many whose parents do not now appear to think that immunisation is a
necessary procedure for the protection of health. These parents should realise that
there is still a risk from diphtheria, that it still remains a dangerous disease when it
does occur, and that a general disregard of diphtheria immunisation might well bring
back the risks of former years. If this should occur, parents of non-immunised
children might well be the first to deplore and regret their failure to obtain this
safeguard.
The following table, shown in the 1952 report, is repeated to emphasise the
relative risks of diphtheria in children immunised and not immunised.