London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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entered school. Accordingly a special effort has been made to raise the immunisation
level, either by making appointments for the children to attend welfare centres in
school time for immunisation, or by holding special sessions at the schools concerned.
These sessions are staffed by a doctor and nurse with clerical assistance. A total of
34 sessions were arranged at 26 schools and 2, 285 children were given the necessary
protection. As a result of these efforts there has been an improvement of 14% in the
immunisation state at these schools.
| Primary Courses completed | Year of birth | Other ages | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 1965 | 1964 | 1963 | 1959/62 | under 16 | Total | |
| Diphtheria | 2,063 | 1,898 | 178 | 92 | 415 | 164 | 4,810 |
| Whooping Cough | 2,013 | 1,878 | 164 | 74 | 102 | 19 | 4,250 |
| Tetanus | 2,063 | 1,894 | 177 | 92 | 413 | 199 | 4,838 |
| Poliomyelitis | 1,271 | 2, 450 | 363 | 128 | 328 | 386 | 4,926 |
| Measles | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 12 | ||
| Re-inforcing doses | |||||||
| Diphtheria | - | 1,696 | 1, 238 | 188 | 2,051 | 1,164 | 6. 337 |
| Whooping Cough | - | 1,671 | 1. 218 | 174 | 386 | 37 | 3. 486 |
| Tetanus | - | 1,693 | 1, 237 | 187 | 1,938 | 700 | 5.755 |
| Poliomyelitis | - | 93 | 38 | 27 | 1,927 | 947 | 3.032 |
Smallpox vaccination - primary course completed
Under 1 yr. 1-2 yrs. 2-4 yrs. 5-15 yrs. over 16 yrs. Total
55 1,648 1,342 167 466 3,678
Re-vaccinations 79 290 2,0 5 4 2,4 23
The large number of re-vaccinations is accounted for by the fact that following
an outbreak of smallpox (variola miner) in the Midlands during the summer of 1966,
many foreign countries demanded up-to-date vaccinations for travellers entering from
the United Kingdom. Such was the demand for vaccination during this period at the
Council's welfare centres that it was necessary to hold additional vaccination
sessions at East Islington and Pine Street Welfare Centres.
Measles vaccination
Following the interim report of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and
Immunisation on the result of measles vaccination trials, the Council introduced its
own scheme in July for vaccinating children aged 10 months and over. Protection is
given by one injection only.
Chiropody Services
On the 1st October, 1966 the Chiropody Services run by the Council and by the
Islington Old Peoples Welfare Association (with which had been merged the former
Finsbury Old Peoples Welfare Committee), became one co-ordinated service administered
directly under the Council's Chief Chiropodist. This included treatment at foot
clinics and old peoples' homes, and domiciliary treatments.
The Council's staff consisted of a chief chiropodist responsible for the
organisation of the service, 5 full-time senior chiropodists and 16 part-time
sessional chiropodists. At the main foot clinic at the Finsbury Health Centre there
were both day time and evening sessions. Sessions were also held weekly at four
maternity and child welfare centres and 3 rented halls. Approximately one session a
week was devoted to treating residents at old people's homes. Three additional
transport sessions a month have been arranged for patients unable to use public
transport, bringing the total to six a month.
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