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
Wandsworth 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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60
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
If the total number of infants who died unvaccinated be deducted
from the total number of births registered, then of 6,225
the remaining infants, 55.5 per cent. were successfully vaccinated,
compared with 617 in 1911, 597 in 1910, and 647 in 1909; .13
were insusceptible, compared with .38, .29 and .42; 1.6 per cent.
were under certificate of postponement, compared with 2.7, 6.2
and 7.0; 21.6 per cent. in regard to whom certificates of conscientious
objection had been obtained, compared with i8'6, 15'5 and
11.5; leaving 21.0 per cent. unaccounted for as regards vaccination,
compared with 16.6, 18.1 and 15.8.
| Sub-Districts. | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910 | 1911 | Average for Ten Years. | 1912 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clapham | 637 | 68.2 | 62.9 | 68.8 | 59.9 | 55.1 | 51.9 | 55.1 | 56.4 | 52.7 | 59.5 | 51.2 |
| Putney | 84.4 | 86.5 | 83.4 | 88.1 | 86.7 | 83.6 | 85.0 | 80.4 | 80.0 | 75.5 | 83.3 | 75.8 |
| Streatham | 65.2 | 66.9 | 69.2 | 69.7 | 66.9 | 62.3 | 54.5 | 52.8 | 45.0 | 50.7 | 60.3 | 42.1 |
| Wandsworth | 82.3 | 81.7 | 82.8 | 80.9 | 78.7 | 74.5 | 69.1 | 68.9 | 64.1 | 61.1 | 74.4 | 59.3 |
| Borough | 72.4 | 73.7 | 73.5 | 74.6 | 71.05 | 66.5 | 61.3 | 60.9 | 56.1 | 56.3 | 66.6 | 52.0 |
The returns for the year 1912 show a decided decrease as regards
successful vaccination, compared with the decennial average, and
the record of the number of unvaccinated children in the Borough
is from a public health point of view, a most unsatisfactory one.
It is fortunate that Small-pox was not introduced into the
Borough during the year, as there is no doubt that if it is, the
results will be disastrous. Parents require proper education
in this master, and it would be extremely beneficial if the kinematograph
could be utilised for this purpose by exhibiting the photographs
of unvaccinated children suffering from the disease. It
cannot be too strongly emphasised that nothing but efficient infantile
vaccination and revaccination at puberty will prevent the
occurrence of Small-pox. Panic vaccination is never satisfactory,
and in addition it is much more costly to the public.