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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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IMMUNISATION AND VACCINATION
For the first time since 1957 there has not been an increase in the number of children
given a primary course of diphtheria immunisation in the calendar year of birth. The
administration of triple antigen (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) decreased by 10,819
(primary and booster courses). On the other hand, the number of persons vaccinated or
re-vaccinated against smallpox reached the record figure of 611,137, of which 321,695
were dealt with in the Council's clinics. During the year the vaccination of young children
against poliomyelitis was done increasingly by vaccine taken orally; in the age-group
1958—62 more than twice as many doses were given of Sabin vaccine as of Salk. Oral vaccine
is now available to adults up to the age of 40 years.
Table (i)
| 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary course— | |||||
| Born in same year | 10,644 | 14,102 | 20,203 | 20,990 | 20,852 |
| Born in previous four years | 23,301 | 26,125 | 28,980 | 32,276 | 22,054 |
| Total under 5 | 33,945 | 40,227 | 49,183 | 53,266 | 42,906 |
| Age 5-14 | 4,742 | 5,022 | 7,648 | 14,490 | 12,902 |
| Reinforcing doses | 38,725 | 33,237 | 40,511 | 87,758 | 44,472 |
| Immunity index 1-4 years | 69.9 | 70.6 | 74.1 | 82.2 | 87.3 |
| 15,092 | 32,531 | 48,605 | 60,298 | 46,963 | |
| 34,133 | 38,917 | 48,539 | 54,064 | 42,637 |
The number of children referred to in table (i) who received multiple antigens is as
follows:
Table (ii)
| 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria/whooping cough | 7,623 | 4,925 | 1,536 | 722 | 215 |
| Diphtheria/whooping cough/tetanus | 15,092 | 32,382 | 46,650 | 52,927 | 42,108 |
| Diphtheria/tetanus | — | 42 | 1,734 | 5,860 | 2,435 |
The falling off in the number of children receiving the triple antigen may very well be
the result of mothers keeping their babies away from welfare centres during the smallpox
scare early in the year. The arrangements for the booster dose to be given at about 15 months
of age were bound up with those for giving the third injection of poliomyelitis (Salk)
vaccine at about the same time. With the introduction of a poliomyelitis vaccine to be
taken orally and the discontinuance of the third injection, parents seemed disinclined to
bring forward their children for the diphtheria, etc., booster dose. New arrangements have
been made for parents to be given a direct reminder of the need for, and importance of,
this booster dose.
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