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1953
1954
1955
1956
No. of children vaccinated against whooping
cough:
(a) under Council arrangements
(b) by general practitioners
Total
19,292
3,427
22,719
31,985
5,449
37,434
22,367
5,574
27,941
29,423
7,133
36,556
Vaccination against smallpox
Facilities provided for the vaccination of infants against smallpox are similar to those
provided for diphtheria immunisation.
The figures below show the number of children under one year of age vaccinated
against smallpox, together with the percentage of annual live births for the past seven
years :

Four cases of generalised vaccinia were reported during the year. In three of these
cases the eruption was sparse, consisting of only a few aberrant vesicules ; the other
child who had suffered from infantile eczema had a more serious attack, but made a
satisfactory recovery.
A child aged 6 years developed headache, drowsiness and pyrexia four days after
primary vaccination. On admission to hospital a diagnosis of encephalomyelitis was
made. Within a few days his condition had improved and he was later reported to
have made a complete recovery.
7,483 vaccinations and 2,622 re-vaccinations were carried out by general medical
practitioners during the year.
Inoculation against poliomyelitis
As a consequence of the Ministry of Health circular 2/56, arrangements were made
to participate in the Ministry of Health scheme for inoculation against poliomyelitis of
children born from 1947 to 1954 inclusive.
Parents of children in the eligible age group were informed of the scheme by letter,
either through the schools or by post for pre-school children, and were invited to register
their children for inoculation against poliomyelitis.
The vaccine was given during May and June to a random sample of the registered
children. The sample consisted of those born in certain months which were chosen by
the Ministry of Health.
The following figures show the position at the end of June, 1956, when inoculation
was suspended for the duration of the poliomyelitis season:
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