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The figures for vaccinations performed under these arrangements
show that in the first years of the National Health Service only one out
of every 5 or 6 babies was vaccinated during the first year of life (see
Figure 9).
Assuming that we receive notification of all vaccinations
carried out (and this seems reasonable since the doctor receives 5s.
for each completed record card) there would appear to be good reason
to provide facilities for vaccination at each of the infant welfare clinics
so that this simple procedure can be performed as a routine in the early
weeks of life.
Diphtheria Immunisation. Immunisation against diphtheria was
commenced in Barking in 1933, when eight children completed a
course of injections. Apart from a slight setback during the first year
of the war, the number of children immunised each year rose rapidly
to a peak of over 2,000 in 1943. The numbers of cases of diphtheria
notified have fallen steadily since the peak number of cases reached in
1933, the last case having been notified in 1950. The fall in incidence
had commenced by the time immunisation was started and whilst there
have undoubtedly been other factors at work, reference to Figure 10
clearly shows how the incidence of diphtheria progressively diminished
as the immunisation programme got under way.
Our relative freedom from diphtheria means that young parents
now have little first hand knowledge of the horrors of this disease,
and there i danger that in consequence they will neglect to have their
children protected. Protection given by immunisation in infancy must
be maintained by a minimum of one " booster " dose when the child
commences school.
Whoop Cough Immunisation. Your scheme for whooping cough
immunisation was introduced during 1941, and in 1946 a combined
vaccine was made available so that babies could be immunised against
both whooping cough and diphtheria with one series of injections.
The scheme for combined immunisation was continued after the
"appointed day" but during 1953 the County Council decided that
this should longer be made available and that children should
receive separate courses of injections against whooping cough and
diphtheria. It was agreed, however, that we could continue to use
"combined" vaccines for the purpose of investigating the relative
merits of the two methods of immunisation, and I hope to report on
this research next year. The work is largely being undertaken by Dr.
Spiller.
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