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
Ealing 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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IMMUNIZATION
Immunization is provided in clinics and by general practitioners in the area against
the following diseases:
Diphtheria
Whooping Cough
Tetanus
Poliomyelitis
Smallpox
In addition immunization against tuberculosis is offered to 13-year-old school
children details of which I include in my report on the School Medical Service.
There has recently been considerable discussion concerning the timing of the various
immunization procedures. Particularly, it has been suggested, that vaccination against
smallpox be postponed until the second year of life. This does, however, mean that
an infant is exposed to risk until this age and in an area, such as Ealing, in close
proximity to London Airport I feel that this is a risk which should not be taken.
The schedule of immunization used in Ealing clinics is therefore:
| Age | Vaccine | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | Triple antigen (Diphtheria Whooping Cough Tetanus) | 4 weeks or more |
| 4 months | Triple antigen ditto | 4 weeks or more |
| 5 months | Triple antigen ditto | 4 weeks or more |
| 6 months | Vaccination against smallpox | 4 weeks or more |
| 7 months | Poliomyelitis—ORA L | 4 weeks or more |
| 8 months | Poliomyelitis— ORAL | 4 weeks or more |
| 9 months | Poliomyelitis—ORAL | 4 weeks or more |
| 16 months | Triple antigen | |
| School Entry | Diphtheria and tetanus booster |
The acceptance rate for immunization of all kinds in the Borough compares
favourably with that of the country as a whole. Thus during 1962, 3,093 children
under one year of age were immunized against Diphtheria which represents approximately
84% of children in their first year of life. Diphtheria immunization is now
normally combined with that against Whooping Cough and Tetanus.
With regard to Poliomyelitis, the number of persons who completed a course during
the year is given below. Oral Poliomyelitis immunization was introduced during the
year and thus infants who had partially completed a course of injections were able
to complete it orally. Infants now starting a course receive all three doses orally.
Children born in the years 1943—1962 3,766
Young persons born in the years 1933—1942 1,210
Persons born before 1933 who have not passed their 40th birthday 2,898
Others 479
Total 8,353
By the end of the year a total of 64,193 persons in Ealing had completed a course
of immunization against Poliomyelitis.
During last year the figure for infant vaccination against smallpox was 3,093 which
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