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paid by local health authorities to general medical practitioners for records of
completed courses and reinforcing doses of immunisation and vaccination of persons
under 16 years of age. Copies of immunisation and vaccination records completed
by general medical practitioners are now sent to local health authorities by the
Executive Councils.
In the case of persons under 16 years of age a total number of 8,737 primary
courses (lines 1 - 9 of Table 17) were given, of which 2,985 were undertaken by
general medical practitioners and 5,752 by the council's medical officers. Of the
total number of 10,774 reinforcing doses (lines 1 - 9 of Table 17) 3,269 were given
by general medical practitioners and 7,505 by the council's medical officers. With
regard to smallpox, general medical practitioners undertook 1,015 primary vaccinations
and 203 re-vaccinations of persons under the age of 16 years, compared
with 1,582 primary vaccinations and three re-vaccinations by the council's medical
officers.
Publicity
The evaluation by the Ministry of Health of the national publicity campaign
mounted last year is still awaited. However, the Minister did issue Ministry of
Health Circular CMO 15/67 suggesting various methods of increasing acceptance
rates for immunisation and vaccination, having in mind the low levels found in
some parts of the country. Enfield is in the happy position of having a high
acceptance rate and having already implemented most of the methods advocated.
Immunisation and vaccination was featured in the Health Education Programme
in the third quarter of the year.
Immunisation in Clinics
At appropriate ages, a card is sent to each child, inviting him to be immunised
either by his family doctor or by attendance at a clinic, and a leaflet giving information
about immunisation accompanies it. This is combined with the periodic
or birthday card in which children are invited to attend the clinic for general health
purposes. It is considered that the provision of immunisation facilities at each
child welfare session, rather than at specially organised sessions, results in a more
successful acceptance rate.
Vaccination against Smallpox
The recorded number of persons under 16 years of age who received primary
vaccination was 2,597, and 206 persons were re-vaccinated.
Of the children born in 1965 (4,248) 2,659 had received primary vaccination by
the end of 1967, representing an acceptance rate of 62.5% (England and Wales
(provisional) 38%).
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