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which one heartily endorses. Only when the central
authority, the local authority and the body of general
practitioners concerned is prepared to work together,
interchanging information to the fullest possible extent,
can we say that we are ready to cope with any situation.
The fact that special measures were never necessary in
this particular instance should not be allowed to militate
against this excellent principle.
Diphtheria.
For the sixth year in succession no case of diphtheria
was notified in the district. The last death took place
approximately seven years ago.
Our immunisation programme is, broadly speaking, the
same as that set out in previous reports. Various minor
modifications have been introduced, particularly to ensure
the use of the most efficient antigen and to lay down
special precautions relating to infants and children who
are likely to be allergic. I intend to embody our immunisation
time-table in a memorandum which will set out in
detail the programme upon which we have decided, together
with those precautions considered necessary. When the
time-table is ready, I will furnish each general practitioner
with a copy, so that we will, so far as is possible, be
working along the same lines.
It was not necessary during 1954 to suspend the use
of the combined type of antigen for immunisation against
diphtheria and pertussis. As will be remembered, this
was done during 1953 because of the occurrence of cases of
poliomyelitis in the neighbourhood.
The immunisation figures relating to Friern Barnet
for 1954 might be summarised as follows:
471 children were immunised against diphtheria or
diphtheria and pertussis(whooping cough) combined, under the
scheme arranged by the Middlesex County Council, 299 at the
local clinics and 172 by their family doctor. A further
598 children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, were given
a re-inforcing injection.
I think it can fairly be said that our scheme of
immunisation, either against diphtheria alone or against
diphtheria and pertussis, is comprehensive, and that, so
long as the present level of immunisation is maintained,
diphtheria will continue to be a comparatively rare disease,
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