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immunisation injection, while a total of 4,767 children under 12 years
of age received a fourth immunisation injection.
The number of immunisations with whooping cough vaccine,
which was introduced into infant clinics in 1958, now exceeds a thousand
a year. The number of diphtheria immunisations also exceeds this
figure and, in 1961, there was an increase of 606 in the number of
reinforcing injections given against this disease.
There are sound reasons for hoping that in the future a new
vaccine, prepared by a local industry, will be proved effective against
Measles and will be available for field trials and later for general use.
For the past two years the Health Department has co-operated
with the Medical School, Guy's Hospital, with local medical practitioners
and with the Wellcome Laboratories, Langley Park, in showing
the work of the department to a group of 40 final year students from
the school. This year two medical practitioners from the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine also visited the department
and were shown the work of inspectors and health visitors in the
Borough.
An exhibition of the work of the Department was shown in
October as part of the Charter Commemoration of the Borough. The
"Welcome to Young Citizens" exhibition was staged by various
departments of the Corporation in conjunction with Members of the
Council and was inaugurated last year.
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to the Chairman and
Members of the Health Committee for their support and interest in
the work of the Department, to my colleagues in general practice, and
the hospital service for their co-operation in the control of infectious
diseases, and lastly to my own staff for their efficiency and enthusiasm
through 1961.
L. R. L. EDWARDS,
Medical Officer of Health.
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