View report page

PERSONAL HEALTH
The campaign for vaccination against rubella was pursued for eleven and twelve year old girls and
resulted in the vaccination of 2,188 girls.
A total number of 11,653 primary courses of immunisation against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus,
poliomyelitis, measles and rubella were given to persons under 16 years. Of these, 2,771 were
urdertaken by general medical practitioners and 8,882 by the Council's medical officers: 7,762 reinforcing
doses were also given, 2,673 of these by general medical practitioners and 5,089 by the
Council's medical officers.
As recommended by the Department of Health and Social Security, medical practitioners continued
to be informed of the patients on their lists who had been immunised or vaccinated at local authority
clinics and 11,294 notifications of immunisation were sent.
Of the 4,044 children eligible for B.C.G. vaccination, the parents of 3,163 children (77.96%) consented
to have a tuberculin skin test carried out and B.C.G . vaccination if necessary. A total of
3,102 had a tuberculin skin test; 2,742 (88.93%) were found to require vaccination and 2,740 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 3,264 and 3,425 received a reinforcing dose. Of the children born in 1970 (3,834) 2,878
had received primary immunisation by the end of 1972, representing an acceptance rate of 75.06%.
Whooping
Cough
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a primary course of immunisation
was 2,867 and 490 received a reinforcing dose. Of the children born in 1970, 2,656 had
received primary immunisation by the end of 1972, representing an acceptance rate of 69.27%.
Tetanus
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a primary course of immunisation
was 3,890 and 3,931 received a reinforcing dose. Of the children born in 1970, 2,878 had
received primary immunisation by the end of 1972, representing an acceptance rate of 75.06%.
Poliomyelitis
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received a primary course of immunisation
was 3,396 and 3,813 received a reinforcing dose. Of the children born in 1970, 2,907 had
received primary immunisation by the end of 1972, representing an acceptance rate of 75.82%.
Measles
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received primary immunisation was
2,176. Of the children born in 1970, 1,723 had received primary immunisation by the end of 1972,
representing an acceptance rate of 44.94%.
Rubella
The recorded number of persons under sixteen years of age who received primary immunisation was
2,188.
Distribution
of vaccines
The Health Department is responsible for the distribution of vaccines to general medical practitioners
and collection centres are located at the Health Office, Enfield; the Town Hall, Palmers Green; and the
Central Clinic, Edmonton.
Vaccination
of staff
It is important to ensure that persons most liable to come into contact with an undiagnosed case of
smallpox and those required to deal with an outbreak should maintain a high level of immunity.
Included in this category are certain members of the Health Department and their immediate families.
Annual vaccination was again urged and 68 members of staff were vaccinated.
18