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Smallpox vaccination is also available in certain instances in the Medical Suite at City Hall
for adults residing or working in Westminster and 150 persons were vaccinated during 1968.
Measles vaccination
In April 1968, measles vaccine was made available by the Ministry of Health for all susceptible
children up to and including the age of 15 years—priority being given to children in the age group
4-7 years.
A campaign was launched in Westminster and parents of all children attending Infant and Primary
schools, who were not known to have already had natural measles or measles vaccination
received an invitation to have their children vaccinated at special sessions arranged at their school.
The result was very disappointing. Out of 5,764 letters sent out only 2,986 replies were received.
Of these, 2,116 children had already had measles or measles vaccination, 78 were to be vaccinated
by their general practitioner and 82 had contra-indications. The number of children eventually
vaccinated at school was 710. In August the age range was extended to include children aged
1-4 years and a further 658 were vaccinated.
It was proposed to start measles vaccination for the 8-15 years age group at a later date when
vaccine was more plentiful.
Influenza vaccine
In view of the expected epidemic of Hong Kong influenza the Council obtained sufficient
vaccine to protect the staff in key positions such as midwives, district nurses and staff of residential
nurseries.
Vaccination against Anthrax
In 1966 the Secretary of State 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, and 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 from their family doctors. The City Council at its meeting on 17th
March, 1966 decided to make provison 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. No application
for vaccine was received during 1968.
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
It is axiomatic that early detection of handicap is necessary to successful treatment, and it is for
this reason that "At Risk" (Observation) registers are maintained. Nevertheless the Medical Officer
of Health is concerned with the enormous bulk of work, much of it abortive, created by the maintenance
of such a register. A survey recently undertaken in the Department has led him to question
the advantages of the existing system.
During the years 1963 to 1967 some 500 names were added to the observation register each
year; that is, 14 per cent, to 15 per cent, of live births. Near the end of 1968 over 1,700 entries were
examined and the following facts emerged:
(1) The number of handicapped children born in each of those years was fairly constant, being
about 60 a year. This figure includes those with delayed development, many of whom later
progress to everage or low average attainment; the number with a substantial degree of
handicap is therefore lower. No definite figure can be given since prognosis is not yet
certain in all cases.
(2) Of the 60 or so handicapped children notified each year, about 70 per cent. were first
reported by hospital paediatricians or clinic medical officers; of the remainder, a few moved
into the area after birth, some were reported by the Children's Officer and some were known
from birth records to have a congenital abnormality.
It seems clear therefore that if developmental examinations are carried out on all children attending
welfare clinics and if good lines of communication exist between local consultant paediatricians and