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PERSONAL HEALTH
In accordance with the advice of the Department of Health and Social
Security, vaccination against smallpox is carried out "by or with the knowledge
of the family doctor Accordingly, before vaccination against smallpox
is undertaken by medical officers of the Council, the general medical
practitioner concerned is asked to sign a form signifying that to his knowledge
there is no contra-indication to vaccination.
It is recommended by the Department of Health and Social Security that
local authorities should inform general medical practitioners of patients on
their lists who have been immunised or vaccinated in local authority clinics
and accordingly general practitioners were notified that 13,019 children had
received immunisation or vaccination.
Consent forms for diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis immunisation continue
to be issued to all school entrants so that children whose parents
have not taken advantage of facilities available at child health clinics may
have this further opportunity. In addition, consent forms for poliomyelitis
and tetanus immunisation and smallpox re-vaccination are issued for pupils
of fifteen years of age for reinforcing doses.
Section 28,
National Health Service
Act, 1946
Under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act 1946, authority has
been given to local health authorities to offer B.C.G. vaccination against
tuberculosis to contacts, to staff likely to be exposed to infection, and to
certain groups of children and students, including school children between
their thirteenth and fourteenth birthdays.
Of the 3,770 children eligible for B.C.G. vaccination, the parents of 2,888
children (76.60%) consented to have a tuberculin skin test carried out,
and B.C.G. vaccination, if necessary. A total of 2,804 children had a
tuberculin skin test, 2,416 (86.16%) were found to require vaccination, and
all were vaccinated.
Publicity
Publicity for immunisation procedures continued in all clinics and in general
practitioners' surgeries during the year in the form of posters and leaflets
which were varied from time to time.
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 health session, rather than
at specially organised sessions, results in a more successful acceptance
rate.
Smallpox
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received
primary vaccination was 1,796 and 1,942 were re-vaccinated.
Of the children born in 1968 (3,966), 2,107 had received primary vaccination
by the end of 1970, representing an acceptance rate of 53.12%.
Diphtheria
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a
primary course of immunisation was 2,600 and 5,439 received a reinforcing
dose.
Of the children born in 1968, 3,593 had received primary immunisation by
the end of 1970, representing an acceptance rate of 90.59% (England and
Wales 80.1%).
Whooping Cough
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received
a primary course of immunisation was 2,301 and 1,529 received a reinforcing
dose.
Of the children born in 1968, 3,394 had received primary immunisation by
the end of 1970, representing an acceptance rate of 85-57% (England and
Wales 78-4%).
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