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
Coulsdon and Purley 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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Diphtheria Immunisation.
The following table shows the treatment given during 1948, and the proportion of children estimated to have been immunised in that year:—
| Clinics. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of sessions held during the year | 26 | |
| Number of children who commenced treatment | 292 | |
| Number who completed treatment | 313 | |
| Number of Schick tests made | 1 | |
| Number of "Booster" doses given | 41 | |
| Total number of attendances | 647 | |
| Welfare Centres. | ||
| Number of children who commenced treatment | 321 | |
| Number who completed treatment | 328 | |
| Number of "Booster" doses given | 101 | |
| Schools. | ||
| Number of visits made | 39 | |
| Number commencing treatment | 126 | |
| Number completed treatment | 136 | |
| Number of Schick tests made | 2 | |
| Number of "Booster" doses given | 900 | |
| General Practitioners. | ||
| Number completed treatment | 76 | |
| Number given "Boosters" | 29 | |
| Proportion of children estimated to have been immunised: | ||
| (a) from 1-5 years | 53%' | |
| 88% |
The above figures differ from their predecessors, not only as a result
of the inclusion of the cases treated by the general practitioners, but by
the spreading of the work formerly undertaken at special clinics over all
the child welfare centres, while as far as practicable the diphtheria
immunisation of school children is undertaken by the Assistant School
Medical Officers in conjunction with their visits to the schools for other
purposes.
As a result, the number of clinic sessions was a little less than half
that in 1947, but the numbers of children who were treated at the child
welfare centres and at the schools were trebled compared with last year.
The estimated proportion of children who had been immunised in
December showed a 5 per cent, increase in those under 5 years of age,
but a 3 per cent, decrease among those from 5 to 14 years.
It is not easy to report simply the proportion of the older children
who had received such reinforcing doses as they heeded, but in general
the position is considered satisfactory.
The system of giving appointments at the centres at which treatment
is provided, which has always been the practice in this District, was
maintained.
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