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it is possible to obtain the American vaccine Originally,, correspondence with
the Ministry of Health indicated that individuals might obtain vaccine from
America,provided the application was supported by a medical practitioner, and
that;'dollars would be made available for the purchase of small quantities. I now
understand that this is not so, but that it can be obtained only if it is sent
as an unsolicited gift. These are the facts as I understand them at present.
The vaccines against poliomyelitis that are being used in England, the
United States and elsewhere are made of killed virus and are injected. Two
workers in America, however Drs, Sabin and Koprowsky., have been working for
many years on a live attenuated vaccine which can be given by mouth. They hold
that such a vaccine would give a more lasting immunity than that achieved by a
dead vaccine. It is a fact that we do not know yet how long the protection
afforded by the Salk vaccine will last, though we have reason to hope that it
will be some years. For that matter we do not know how long the immunity derived
from a live vaccine would continue, except that it is believed that the immunity
so obtained is similar to the natural immunity which is derived by the ordinary
individual or by those who have suffered from one attack of the disease. For an
attenuated vaccine to be successful and safe, one must be sure that the live
virus will not recover its virulence., and in this there seems to be an element
of doubt. Further experimental work will be carried out on these vaccines.
Conclusion
The Committee will realise that the preparation of this Annual Report is
not the sole effort of the Medical Officer of Health I am indebted, in
particular, to Mr. C.W. Smith who is responsible for preparing the background
upon which the report is presented This is a task which is continuous throughout
the year, and involves compilation of all figures and statistical tables
and graphs I have also received very considerable help from Dr S. Tracy,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Mr E.W Winchester Chief Public Health
Inspector - indeed, all members of the staff are involved I would like to
mention in particular Mr D H, Smith, Mr, HP Price, Mr J Marginson and
Mr. B V Cryer in connection with the reports on fireguards, the Pet Animals
Act hairdressers and blind persons respectively
No Medical Officer of Health works in isolation. He is dependent for any
success he may achieve on the trust and confidence which is placed in him by
the members of the Council, and once again it is my priviiage to thank the
Council, and in particular the members of the Public Health Committee, for the
encouragement and courtesy I have always received.
To my colleagues in charge of the other Departments of the Council I would
like to express my thanks for making St. Pancras so happy a place in which to
work,
I beg to remain.
Your Worship Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant
DENNIS H. GEFFEN
Medical Officer of Health
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