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INTRODUCTION
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
1 have the honour to present my Report on the health of the
Borough during 1956.
Genera).
The year was notable for the introduction of Poliomyelitis
vaccination, the increasing use of Mobile Units for Mass X-Ray,
and the introduction of new Food Hygiene Regulations.
Apart from an epidemic of Whooping Cough, and an increase
of Measles in parts of the borough, the general health was good. An
interesting event was that the population figure exactly matched that
of the previous year. The slow increase previously noted has come
to an abrupt halt. Improvement with regard to prevention of deaths
from Cancer of the Lung and Pulmonary Tuberculosis largely depends
on early detection, and the report shows the various ways by which
this is carried out.
Poliomyelitis Vaccination.
A British Poliomyelitis vaccine available early in 1956 was
administered to children born in the years 1947 to 1954 whose parents
registered their wish for vaccination. During the first week in April
the local Journal published an article in “Question and Answer”
form on parents' polio problems. Parents were informed that they
had until the end of the week to decide whether they wanted their
children to be vaccinated against poliomyelitis. This article was most
helpful, and the Council also co-operated magnificently in making
known the scheme. As a result the parents of 2,939 children registered
for vaccination. It is estimated that approximately 7,800 children
were eligible, so that slightly more than a third accepted.
Only sufficient vaccine was available to complete 368 vaccinations.
The order of priority decided by the Medical Research Council was
according to month of birth. November for all children aged 2 to
9 years, and March for children aged 6 to 9 years. August children
aged 2 to 9 years were given any surplus vaccine. There were few
reactions and these were slight. Up-to-date tests conducted by the
Medical Research Council through certain selected public health
research laboratories have shown that a considerable amount of
protective substances are present as a result of these vaccinations in
the blood of those children who have been examined. These children
before the vaccination had no protective substances.
We now have down to the age of 2 years a practically safe and
assured product in preventing paralysis in children; the earlier the
product can be given the better, so that the future trials are likely to
be for younger children. As the disease is more common up to the
age of 6 years, it is easy to see the reason for the selection of the
present age group.
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