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and independent schools, it proved possible to complete the whole
campaign on school premises in the short space of eight weeks.
The total number of persons of all ages in the South Eastern
Division who had been vaccinated against poliomyelitis by the end
of 1961 with three injections was 39,102
DIPHTHERIA
No case of diphtheria occurred during the year but this disease
is becoming more common throughout the country as a whole.
The number of cases in England and Wales was 52 compared with
53 in 1960. It is, therefore, more important than ever that parents
should have their children immunised and arrange for reinforcing
injections when they are 5 and 10 years old. The number of children
immunised against this disease was 1,308 and 1,720 were given
reinforcing injections.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA
One mild case occurred.
SMALLPOX
The substantial degree of protection from smallpox which the
population had during the time of compulsory vaccination is being
slowly reduced due to the reduction throughout the country in the
numbers of children vaccinated at the appropriate time. The percentage
of infants under one year vaccinated in this District during
the year was 78% and efforts are being made to increase this
figure which is well above the most recently published figure of
38.4% for the country as a whole.
As with diphtheria immunisation, all medical practitioners
providing general medical services in the area are given an opportunity
to provide services for carrying out vaccination.
The number of primary vaccinations carried out was 1,098 and
the number of re-vaccinations was 113.
TETANUS
Tetanus is not notifiable and its incidence is not known. Cases
do occur, however, and there have been several fatal cases in Surrey
during recent years including one in Purley in 1959. It is hoped
that parents will have their children immunised against this disease
as well as the other diseases of childhood.
The tetanus prophylactic injection is usually a combined one
with whooping cough and diphtheria prophylactics so that no extra
injections are necessary.
The number of children immunised against this disease was
1,346 and 472 were given reinforcing injections.
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