London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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The following table sets out the percentage vaccination state, within the City Council area of children born in 1965; the equivalent national figures are also shown:

Children born in 1965Smallpox (Children under 2) (4)
Whooping Cough (1)Diphtheria (2)Poliomyelitis (3)
City of Westminster66675729
England & Wales72736838

Note (i) The figures in colums (1)—(3) are calculated to show the percentage of children born
in 1965 who have been vaccinated at any time.
(ii) Column (4) includes only children who were vaccinated during 1966 and were under
2 years old at the time, and is calculated as a percentage of children born during 1965.
This is considered to give a reasonable estimate of the proportion of young children
being vaccinated against smallpox.
These figures are disappointing having regard to the fact that unceasing efforts are made by health
visitors to persuade parents to have their children immunised; that propaganda of all kinds is used;
that individual visits are undertaken; that leaflets, posters and postal reminders are distributed; and
that in addition to periodic talks, every year a special campaign is undertaken with local and
national press and broadcasting publicity.
One factor that subscribes to the low figures is doubtless the particularly high mobility of the
resident population in this part of the Metropolis.
Immunisation is also available for school children under 16 who require it, either in the schools
or in the welfare clinics and figures supplied by the Inner London Education Authority show that
almost 90% of school children have been protected against diphtheria and poliomyelitis.
Smallpox vaccination is provided at City Hall in certain circumstances for adults residing or
working in Westminster.
General practitioners are supplied with antigens free of charge by the Health Department.
Westminster was one of the areas selected in 1964 for a trial of measles vaccine. Vaccine has
now been made available to general practitioners and the City Council pays a fee to practitioners in
respect of records of children vaccinated against measles. The City Council has not instituted a
general measles vaccination scheme of its own but arrangements are made for the vaccination of any
suitable child if so requested by the general practitioner or parent.
Vaccination against Anthrax
An effective anthrax vaccine is now available and early in 1966 the Minister of Health urged
authorities within whose areas there are establishments which may be handling potentially infected
raw materials to make arrangements under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, for
vaccination against anthrax. The Minister also issued his approval under the Act to the making of
such arrangements.
Although there are no establishments within the City of Westminster in which workers are
particularly at risk from anthrax, it was felt that there may be residents working elsewhere who may
need protection and seek this form their family doctors. The City Council at its meeting on 17th
March, 1966 decided to make provision for vaccination against anthrax under this scheme; vaccine
is supplied free, on request, to general practitioners and factory doctors and the customary payment
is made to any general practitioner providing a record of anthrax vaccination.
PHENYLKETONURIA
Health Visitors undertake urine tests on all babies between the ages of six and eight weeks either
at the infant welfare clinics or at the children's homes. Where a phenistix test gives a doubtful
reaction the ferric chloride solution test is carried out. During 1966, 3,277 tests were made; no
positive reaction was seen.
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
The precise number of handicapped children in the area of the City of Westminster is not known.
Some severely handicapped with conditions such as spina bifida or spastic quadriplegia are
necessarily kept in hospital for a considerable time after birth and so do not become known to the
health visitors. With other handicapped children, the parents may place them in private establishments
or seek the aid of one of the voluntary societies specialising in the care of children with a
particular handicap.