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IMMUNISATION AND VACCINATION
Diphtheria immunisation
facilities for the immunisation of children against diphtheria are provided at the
Council's child welfare centres, special immunisation clinics, day nurseries, schools and
residential establishments in London. Parents may, if they prefer, have their children
immunised by the family doctor, who receives a fee of 5s. for each completed record of
immunisation sent to the Council. Prophylactic material approved for national free
issue is provided by the Council to general medical practitioners on request.

The figures for immunisation against diphtheria show an increase compared with the
figures for 1955. This is probably due to the fact that immunisation was generally
carried out throughout the year and was not interrupted to the extent made necessary
by the poliomyelitis epidemic of the previous year.
The 'estimated' percentage figure of children aged 1 to 4 years immunised is the
highest ever recorded.
There were, in 1956, two deaths from diphtheria, one a child aged 4 years who had
not been immunised against diphtheria, the other, a woman, aged 59, who died from
heart disease said to have resulted from diphtheria contracted abroad 12 years before.
The mother of the child later stated that immunisation had been suggested by the
health visitor who had also advised her of the clinic times at which immunisation could
be given, but that she had been persuaded by friends and relatives not to have the
immunisation carried out. It cannot be repeated too often that the only effective method
of preventing diphtheria, either in the individual or the community, is immunisation.
Vaccination against whooping cough
There is no scheme in London for vaccination against whooping cough corresponding
to that for diphtheria. Children may be immunised at the request of their parents by
arrangement at the Council's child welfare centres, and the Council pays the standard
fee of 5s. for records of such immunisation received from general medical practitioners.
Children may, if parents desire it, be immunised against both diphtheria and whooping
cough at the same time by the use of a combined prophylactic. Although no publicity
is given to whooping cough immunisation there is an established demand for it from
parents, undoubtedly due to their familiarity with the disease and to their appreciation
of its potential dangers. The number of children immunised shows a marked increase as
compared with 1955 and this, as with diphtheria immunisation, is probably due to the
fact that immunisation continued throughout the year. The following figures show the
number of children immunised against whooping cough in the past four years, including
those receiving the combined antigen which protected them against both diphtheria
and whooping cough.
75