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PERSONAL HEALTH
Section 28
National Health
Service Act 1946
immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis so that any child
who has not been immunised may take advantage of this further opportunity.
In addition consent forms are distributed to pupils of fifteen years of age for
reinforcing doses against tetanus and poliomyelitis.
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 3,766 children eligible for B.C.G. vaccination, the parents of 2,895
children (76.87%) consented to have a tuberculin skin test carried out, and
B.C.G. vaccination if necessary. A total of 2,828 children had a tuberculin
skin test, 2,566 (90.38%) were found to require vaccination and 2,549 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.
Diphtheria
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a
primary course of immunisation was 2,992 and 3,911 received a reinforcing
dose.
Of the children born in 1969 (3,890) 3,062 had received primary immunisation
by the end of 1971, representing an acceptance rate of 78.71%
(England and Wales 80%).
Whooping Cough
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a
primary course of immunisation was 2,604 and 711 received a reinforcing
dose.
Of the children born in 1969, 2,878 had received primary immunisation by
the end of 1971, representing an acceptance rate of 73.98% (England and
Wales 77.9%).
Tetanus
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a
primary course of immunisation was 3,678 and 4,983 received a reinforcing
dose.
Of the children born in 1969, 3,067 had received primary immunisation by
the end of 1971, representing an acceptance rate of 78.84% (England and
Wales 80.1%).
Poliomyelitis
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a
primary course of immunisation was 3,266 and 5,809 received a reinforcing
dose.