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13
There is a tendency among mothers to relax precautions once
the danger becomes less immediate so that there has been a falling
off of the number of immunisations throughout the country in
recent months.
The table shows that during the year a total of 1,699 children
received primary immunisation at the clinics (1,834 in 1950) and 571
(612) were immunised by the General Practitioners—a total of
2,270 (2,446).
This compares with 2,523 children who reached the age of 1
year in 1951.
There was thus a decline of 176 in the number of primary
immunisations as compared to the previous year, possibly accounted
for by the diminution of 137 in the number of children " at risk."
The campaign in the schools for " boosting doses " on entry
has been a great success and the number has risen from 1,155 in
1950 to 2,692 in 1951, including 154 performed by General
Practitioners.
The combined pertussis/diphtheria antigen is the type in
general use throughout the Borough since it has the advantages of a
smaller number of inoculations, 3 as against 5 if done separately,
and there is some evidence that the combination produces a better
antibody response. In a recent limited survey, after immunisation
it was found that the Schick test—showing immunity—had become
converted in every case.
A difficulty in the use of the combined vaccine has been that a
number of the children appear to be sensitive to the alum which
it contains. A test is being undertaken using a modified alum-free
vaccine which is giving promising results.
Enteric Fever.
There were no cases of Typhoid Fever, but three cases of
Paratyphoid B were notified.
Two of these, boys of 4 and 6 years, occurred in a Children's
Hostel, where some 20 children live. No trace of the source of
infection was found although faeces examinations of all the staff
and the children were carried out.
The third case, a girl of 4 years, had come from another district
to stay with relations in Ealing. Here again no trace of the source
of infection could be found.
Enteric Fever Carriers.
There are now only 2 carriers in the district, one paratyphoid
carrier having moved to another district. The remaining two,
one typhoid and one paratyphoid carrier, are under the care of
their own doctors as well as being kept under regular surveillance