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FIREGUARDS
In order to reduce accidents in the home through unguarded fires, the Council loaned
fireguards to necessitous families with children under 12 years of age, and to necessitous
elderly, handicapped or blind persons. Where appropriate, the consent of the landlord was
obtained to any necessary work being carried out to fix the guard in position. 54 fireguards
were loaned in 1968.
INCONTINENCE PADS
Incontinence pads were supplied, mainly through district nurses and home visitors, as
requested during the year. In addition, disposable knicker linings and other protective
equipment were supplied on the recommendation of a medical practitioner. By arrangement with
the Council's Cleansing Department, polythene bags were provided with incontinence pads and
other disposable articles, which could be sealed and placed in dustbins for collection and
disposal.
PROPHYLAXIS
Ad hoc vaccination and immunisation sessions continued to be held at all the main
maternal and child health centres, amounting to a total of eight sessions weekly. In addition,
the basic course of protection is offered to all infants attending child health sessions,
unless already being given protection by their own doctors. Despite untiring efforts by all
concerned, the percentage of young children fully protected before they reach school age
falls short of the optimum. For this reason it is still necessary to arrange sessions in
schools to offer "booster" doses and, in many instances, full basic courses to the unimmunised.
During 1968, 23 such sessions were held in primary schools, and we continue to be most grateful
for the co-operation of school staff in making this possible. 1,419 children completed basic
courses of immunisation. It is estimated that as a result of these sessions the average
percentage of children protected in these schools was raised by 7%.
Discussions were held towards the end of 1968 at meetings of the Inner London Group of
the Association of London Borough Medical Officers of Health about the revised schedules of
immunisation procedures recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
(Ministry of Health Circular 29/68), with a view to obtaining uniformity of action at least
throughout the Inner London area. The revised schedule recommends delaying the commencement
of the basic course until 6 months of age (instead of at 3 months), and extending the intervals
between doses to 6-8 weeks (instead of 4). In addition, the recommended schedule is extended
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