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HOME NURSING
This service is still administered from the County Training Home
at Leytonstone, although a strong case can be made for the transfer
to the Health Area Sub-Committee—as indeed envisaged in the County
Council's scheme for decentralization.
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Smallpox Vaccination. The number of primary vaccinations
carried out in 1954 was 209 in infants under one year, 89 in those
over one year. This means that only about 20% of infants are being
vaccinated during the first year of life.
Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Immunization. Last year I
reported that the scheme for "combined" diphtheria and whooping
cough immunization, introduced by the Borough Council in 1946, had
been discontinued by decision of the County Council. 1 added that
we had been given dispensation to continue the use of combined
immunization for the purpose of continuing certain investigations
started by Dr. Spiller, with the proviso that the prophylactic was not
to be purchased through County funds.
It was explained to mothers that the only chance of having their
babies protected against both diseases by the "combined" method
was to enter them in the research scheme. Babies over six months
of age, and those whose parents did not wish to enter the scheme, were
immunized strictly to County Council policy by the "separate" method
involving five injections (three for whooping cough followed by two
for diphtheria).
Babies entered in the scheme were divided into two groups quite
at random by drawing slips "out of the hat". Half received the three
"combined" injections whilst the other half had the five "separate
injections. When each baby was about fifteen months old a small
quantity of blood was taken from the heel, and this was analysed for
us at the Wright Fleming Institute, St. Mary's Hospital.
Results showed that there was no real difference between the
amounts of protective "antibodies" against whooping cough both
methods appeared equally good so far as laboratory tests could show
the children will be followed up to find out whether there is equal
protection over a period of years.
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