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Tetanus Immunisation. In those so protected injury calls
for simply a small boost dose of toxoid and there is no need
for administration of serum.
Tetanus Immunisation was first made available through
local health authorities in 1960, and since then has been
offered each year to all our infants, pre-school and school
children. Accordingly by now most young people up to the age
of 18 have had the opportunity of this protection and have
widely availed themselves of it. This, however, leaves
almost the entire adult population unprotected, including
certain groups particularly at risk. Such groups employed
by local authorities include parks, building, roads, sewer and
refuse collection and disposal staff. An effort is now being
made in Friern Barnet to put matters right in this respect,
and all such staff have been offered tetanus immunisation.
There has been a very good initial response and it is hoped
that it may be possible to continue this measure as a local
authority service.
The changing pattern of infectious disease over the last
few years leaves no room for doubt as to the efficiency of
immunisation as a means of control. It is interesting to
consider the age range of our present population who are so
protected from various infectious diseases.
Smallpox. The population at all ages have had the opportunity
of smallpox vaccination. The response of the adult population
is directly related to any occurrence of smallpox in the vicinity.
As regards the child population, however, fortunately the response
is consistent and high. Every month, each Health Visitor
records the vaccination state of all children currently reaching
the age of 2. In the majority of cases a vaccination record
card is available and, if not, a home visit is paid, so that
records are accurate. In Friern Barnet the percentage of
children at 2 years who have been successfully vaccinated has
risen from 45% in 1955, when this method of follow-up was
commenced, to 83% for 1963.
Diphtheria. A very high percentage of the population from
infancy to adults aged 38 to 40 years have received diphtheria
immunisation. Diphtheria immunisation was carried out to some
extent in the late 1930s, but it was in 1940 that a campaign was
launched in Middlesex offering immunisation to all children up
to school-leaving age. There was an immediate, massive response
with soon afterwards a spectacular drop in the cases of diphtheria.
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