Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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posters were displayed in prominent places. In addition to this,
the following routine was practised:
(1) A notice was sent to the parent of each 6 months old child.
(2) All Infant Welfare attenders were approached.
(3) All children admitted to Day Nurseries were offered protection.
(4) Health Visitors combed their districts for children who did
not attend Welfares, and urged their protection.
(5) Head Teachers gave forms of, consent to new school
entrants.
(6) Prior to school medical inspections, questionnaires were
sent to each parent asking, inter alia, whether the child
had been inoculated. If the answer were in the negative,
a form of consent was sent to the parent.
All immunised cases are followed up and, at the end of three
years, each child is offered a boost dose. At the age of 11 years
or over, this is preceded by a Schick test.
All children under 5 who have not had the disease, are inoculated
against Whooping Cough at the same time as they are inoculated
against Diphtheria, i.e., they have three doses of protective material
at monthly intervals.
There were, 34 notified cases of Diphtheria, but of this number
12 were not confirmed at the. infectious diseases hospital. Of these
non-confirmed cases, 7 children out of a possible 9 were immunised,
but of the 3 adults none, had been immunised. Of the remaining
22 notifications, 15 of the children under 15 years had not been
immunised, and 2 children aged 5 and 13 years respectively who
had been immunised had mild attacks. Of the 5 over 15 years, none
was known to have been immunised. There was 1 carrier who had
been immunised and received treatment in hospital.
63.4% of the population under 5 years of age is now protected,
and 70.5% of the population aged 5 to 141.
Diphtheria Immunisations, 1946.
Total number of under 5's. inoculated 863
Total number of over 5's inoculated 146
Re-inoculations after 3 years 824
Schick tests after 3 years—negative 175
positive 84
Primary Schick tests— negative 58
positive 76