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
London County Council 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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69
Whooping Cough Immunisation
There is no comprehensive scheme in the County for this service, although a
considerable amount of immunisation against whooping cough is carried out on
request in immunisation clinics.
Immunisation against whooping cough was carried out in some ot the Council s residential establishments by the visiting medical officers, and the following statement shows the position at the end of the year:—
| Establishments in London | Out-County Establishments | |
|---|---|---|
| Children fully immunised | 66 | 654 |
| Children in course of being immunised | 3 | 4 |
| Children awaiting immunisation | 122 | 11 |
| Parental consents awaited | 13 | 111 |
| Parental consents refused | 34 | 378 |
| Children not immunised for other reasons | 572 | 3,179 |
| Number of children on the rolls | 810 | 4,337 |
Experience gained in 1949 confirmed the findings of other published reports
that there was an association in certain cases between the site of paralysis in an attack
of poliomyelitis and the site of an inoculation given during the previous month, and
this association was noticed particularly with the combined diphtheria and whooping
cough antigen. When poliomyelitis reappeared in 1950, therefore, this antigen
was stopped, immunisation against diphtheria and whooping cough being carried
out separately. In areas which were heavily attacked by poliomyelitis, whooping
cough immunisation was in most cases postponed to a more favourable time. These
means appear to have been successful, and the use of the combined antigen was not
resumed in 1951.
Vaccination
Special sessions are held at child welfare centres for vaccination as for diphtheria
immunisation. In addition, general practitioners carry out vaccination under the
Council's arrangements, a fee of 5s. being paid for each completed record received.
Lymph is supplied free of charge by the Ministry of Health through the Public Health
Laboratory Service.
The following table gives particulars of the number of persons who were vaccinated under these arrangements during 1951; corresponding figures for 1950 are shown in brackets:—
| Age at date of vaccination | Under 1 year | 1 to 4 years | 5 to 14 years | 15 or over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaccinations | 19,700 | 8,614 | 2,712 | 4,444 | 35,470 |
| (16.768) | (8,002) | (1,314) | (1,499) | (27.583) | |
| Re-vaccinations | 35 | 254 | 1,330 | 15,641 | 17.260 |
| (281) | (125) | (382) | (4,856) | (5,644) |
One cast of generalised vaccinia occurred. One fatal case of post-vaccinal
encephalomyelitis was reported, but the autopsy findings were not consistent with
this diagnosis.
Residential
establishments
for
children in
London
The vaccinal state of the children in the Council's residential establishments London at 31st December, 1951. was:—
| Number | Percentage of total | |
|---|---|---|
| Children vaccinated | 400 | 49.4 |
| Children awaiting vaccination | 58 | 7.2 |
| Parental consents awaited | 104 | 12.8 |
| Parental consents refused | 95 | 11.7 |
| Children not vaccinated for other reasons | 153 | 18.9 |
| Number of children on the roll | 810 | 100 |