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
Holborn 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn, Metropolitan Borough]
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The following Table, kindly supplied by the Vaccination Officer of the Holborn Union gives information respecting vaccination in the Borough of Holborn:—
| Total Number of Births | Vaccinated | Died before Vaccination | Cons. Objectors | Insusceptible | Postponed by Medical Certificate | Removed. No information as to Vaccination | Temporarily unaccounted for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holborn Sub-District: | ||||||||
| 12 months ended 30th June, 1924 | 243 | 122 | 30 | 28 | 1 | 24 | 23 | 15 |
| St. Giles and Bloomsbury Sub-District: | ||||||||
| 12 months ended 30th June, 1921 | 168 | 86 | 15 | 21 | 0 | 19 | 16 | 11 |
| 411 | 208 | 45 | 49 | 1 | 43 | 39 | 26 |
As in previous years a leaflet respecting the advantages of vaccination was sent to
the parents of all infants born in, or belonging to, the Borough.
As mentioned in the last Annual Report by arrangement with one of the Medical
Officers of the Ministry of Health, a special leaflet prepared by him was used in the
Bjrough during the latter part of the year 1923 and the early part of 1924
simultaneously with the Holborn Vaccination leaflet.
An attempt being made to ascertain to what extent the respective leaflets were
effective, the system adopted was to issue alternately the Holborn leaflet "H" and the
leaflet prepared by the Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health "W." A hundred of
each of these leaflets were issued, a post card for reply being sent at the same time.
Careful note was kept as to the homes to which the respective leaflets were
issued, and at the end of 1924 it was possible, with the co-operation of the
Vaccination Officer, to compile the following table showing the results obtained.
Return respecting vaccination of children whose births were notified in 1923 and to whose parents leaflets were sent as arranged with a Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health:—
| Leaflets. | No. issued. | No. of Children Vaccinated. | Obtained exemption. | Dead Unvaccinated. | Postponed to be done later. | Removed no trace. | Refused Vaccination. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "W" | 100 | 50 | 9 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 2 |
| "H" | 100 | 50 | 13 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 6 |
| 200 | 100 | 22 | 6 | 41 | 23 | 8 |
The advantage is only slightly, if at all, in favour of Leaflet \V. A comment
was made that in Holborn an exceptionally high rate of vaccination was secured,
and that this made it a less satisfactory district for the experiment.