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who have completed record cards and sent them to this office.
Since the appointed day records of 85 persons have come to hand
and those of 11 persons who have been re-vaccinated.
Provision is made for medical officers of the Local Health
Authority to carry out vaccination under certain conditions, such
as the occurrence of an outbreak of smallpox. This has not been
necessary during the period under review.
General practitioners also participate in immunisation against
Diphtheria. The total number of children protected by general
practitioners was 56; this figure includes four boosting doses. A
table is given in the report showing the number of children
immunised by medical officers of the Local Health Authority which
indicates that 2,224 children were protected and 118 children were
given boosting doses. Only one case of Diphtheria was notified
who had been given protective doses; this was a child aged nine
years who had an attack of moderate severity six years approximately
after the final dose. There were no deaths from Diphtheria
during 1948.
Immunisation against Whooping Cough must still be regarded
as in the experimental stage. It has been carried out to a limited
extent in this district for some time, but the effectivity has not
been evaluated and parents of children receiving this treatment
have been informed in every case that no guarantee of protection
could be given. 439 children were given the full course of vaccine
during the year. There are indications that a vaccine of higher
efficacy will shortly be available for general use.
AMBULANCE Until 5th July the ambulance service was
SERVICES. provided by the Dagenham Corporation,
there being three ambulances and one
sitting case car. The service was sited at the Fire Station, the
maintenance of the vehicles and control of personnel being the
responsibility of the Borough Engineer; the Medical Officer of
Health was the officer in charge of the operational control of the
service. On 5th July the County Council was vested with all
duties connected with the provision of ambulances.
PREVENTION OF This heading covers a large number of
ILLNESS, CARE activities which will no doubt, in due
AND AFTER-CARE. course, be extended. At the present
time sick room appliances are stored at
York House and loaned to persons who require them.
Convalescence is provided for adults who are not in need of
medical and/or nursing attention. It is understood that arrangements
are being made to extend facilities under this head.