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References have been made in previous annual reports to the scheme for 1
active immunisation against diphtheria in the Council's residential establishments 1
for children.
Although Schick-testing and diphtheria immunisation had for some years
been applied at some of the residential schools and children's homes whilst they
were under the control of the late metropolitan boards of guardians and at the
training ship " Exmouth " which was under the control of the late Metropolitan
Asylums Board, it was not until the " transferred " schools came under the Council's
control that this preventive measure began in 1931 to be systematically put into
operation in the 24 establishments under the care of the Council where children
are permanently in residence, including the residential special schools and the
approved schools. Immunisation has not been applied in the 2 receiving homes,
the 3 residential open-air schools and the remand home, because the children do
not stay in these establishments for sufficient length of time.
The materials employed for this prophylactic work, i.e., the diphtheria toxin
for Schick-testing and the formol toxoid used as immunising agent, are prepared
at the Council's antitoxin establishment at Belmont, Surrey, under the supervision
of Dr. R. G. White, the director.
The following analysis has been made of the numbers dealt with, and the results
obtained, etc., during the period 1932-1935:—
Among a total of 24 establishments, viz. 15 residential and approved schools,
8 children's homes and the training ship "Exmouth," between 1932 and 1935 there
was an annual average of 5,864 children in residence.
During the four years, with the consent of parents, where necessary, a total of
7,567 were Schick-tested, viz. 4,554 boys and 3,013 girls, of whom 3,062 boys (67.2
per cent.) and 1,863 (61.8 per cent.) girls, proved Schick negative or naturally
immune against diphtheria, whilst 1,492 (32.8 per cent.) boys and 1,150 (38.2 per
cent.) girls were found Schick positive or susceptible to diphtheria.
In the various age groups of those tested from 2 to 16 years, among the total
of 4,925 Schick negative (65.1 per cent.) the dates of birth were recorded in all but
one, and among the total of 2,642 Schick positive (34.9 per cent.), the dates of birth
were wanting in 7.
Active
immunisation
against
diphtheria.