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14. VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, the Council provides
vaccination and immunisation against the following diseases:—
Diphtheria Poliomyelitis
Whooping Cough Smallpox
Tetanus Tuberculosis

Medical officers and health visitors use every opportunity, during their course of
work, to encourage parents to have their children protected by immunisation and
vaccination.
The acceptance rates for immunisation against diphtheria, whooping cough and
tetanus, and for immunisation against poliomyelitis are reasonably satisfactory.
There is less willingness to accept vaccination against smallpox. In view of the
interchange of population to-day and the speed with which air travel makes this
possible, it remains most important to obtain a population, a high percentage of
which has been vaccinated in infancy. When localized outbreaks of smallpox
occur, the Borough's general practitioners and the health clinics are overwhelmed
with requests but, alas, the demand vanishes with the last case notified.
Full details of immunisation carried out during the year are contained in Table 3.
B.C.G. VACCINATION
B.C.G. vaccination provides a large measure of protection against tuberculosis.
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, the School Health Service
arranges an annual programme of visits to senior schools, both maintained and
private, for the purpose of administering B.C.G. vaccination. A team comprising
a medical officer, nurse, and clerk carry out the visit.
The age of 13 years is selected as the most suitable time to vaccinate, and parents
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