London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea]
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19
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION-1951
Number of children at 31st Decembers 1951 who had completed a course of Immunisation at any time before that date (i.e. at any time since 1st January, 1937).
| Age at 31st December, 1951. i„e. Born in year | Under 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 to 9 | 10 to 14 |
| 1951 | 1950 | 1949 | 1948 | 1949 | 1942-1946 | 1937-1941 | |
| Number Immunised | 20 | 310 | 438 | 475 | 517 | 2,015 | 1,235 |
Total under 15 years of age 5,010
The Registrar-General has estimated the child population of Chelsea
to be 7,983, made up as follows:-
Children under five years of age 3,693
Children between 5 and 14 years 4,290 7,983
The percentage of the child population between the years 0. to
15 who have benefited from the advantages of Diphtheria Immunisation is
approximately 63, whilst the percentages for the age groups 0 and under 5,
and 5 and under 14, are approximately 47 and 75 respectively. It will be
obvious, therefore, that the Immunisation service is not being accepted as
it should, because it is held that a percentage of 80 is necessary to ensure
a level of immunity sufficient to minimise the possibility of any
substantial outbreak of diphtheria, The London County Council, the
authority responsible for Immunisation, is taking steps to publicise the
dangers which may arise from the present indications of misplaced
complacency.