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19
SECTION D
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES, SCABIES AND
OTHER CONDITIONS
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION
Immunisation was carried out along the lines indicated in previous
reports, although the normal programme was somewhat
interrupted in the Summer months by the introduction of vaccination
against Poliomyelitis, and by the priority necessarily afforded
to the latter scheme. Publicity on behalf of Diphtheria Immunisation
was relaxed in order that there might be no overlapping of injections
in the age groups to which Poliomyelitis vaccine was available,
but in spite of this there was still a good response and the
number of children immunised against Diphtheria showed a great
increase on the previous year's figures.
All immunised cases were followed up and, at the end of three
years, each child was offered a boost dose. At the age of 11 years or
over, this was preceded by a Schick test.
All children under 5 who had not had the disease, were inoculated
against Whooping Cough at the same time as they were inoculated
against Diptheria, i.e., they had three doses of protective
material at monthly intervals.
Owing to the fact that estimates of child population are no
longer supplied by the Registrar General, it is not possible to give
the proportion of children immunised against Diphtheria, but the
actual number at 31st December, is as follows :
Children under 5 years of age 2,632
Children 5 to 15 years of age 8,047
The figures of work carried out during 1956 are given below:
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION, 19S6
Total number of under 5s inoculated 799
Total number of over 5s inoculated 14
Boost dose after 3 years 1,388
Schick Test after 3 years—Negative 468
Positive 11
Primary Schick Test —Negative 19
Positive 10