London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Haringey 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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It is regrettable that there should have been a fall in the number of primary vaccinations as compared
with last year. Vaccination is offered to all children who are attending the clinics between the ages
of one and two years, in the absence of any contra-indication, but many parents are reluctant to have it done.
Immunisation against Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus and Poliomyelitis
The following tables record the number of persons under the age of 16 known to have received a
primary course of immunisation or re-inforcing doseduring the year by general practitioners or clinic staff.
A. The number who completed a full course of Primary Immunisation
| Age at date of Immunisation | Quadruple | Triple | Dip/WC | Dip/Tet | Dip | WC | Tet | Salk | Sabin | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 1 year | 2 | 1,446 | 11 | 10 | - | - | - | 846 | 2,315 | |
| 1 - 2 years | 9 | 1,830 | 1 | 21 | 69 | - | - | 6 | 2,166 | 4,102 |
| 2 - 4 years | 10 | 212 | 1 | 31 | 2 | - | 1 | 8 | 465 | 730 |
| 4 - 6 years | - | 43 | 1 | 58 | - | 9 | 2 | 267 | 380 | |
| 6 - 16 years | - | 8 | - | 6 | - | - | 19 | 1 | 118 | 152 |
| Totals | 21 | 3,539 | 3 | 127 | 81 | - | 29 | 17 | 3,862 | 7,679 |
B. The number who received a re-inforcing dose
| Age at date of Immunisation | Quadruple | Triple | Dip/WC | Dip/Tet | Dip | WC | Tet | Salk | Sabin | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 1 year | - | 79 | - | - | 9 | - | - | 28 | 116 | |
| 1 - 2 years | - | 603 | - | -16 | 6 | - | 1 | 1 | 68 | 695 |
| 2 - 4 years | 1 | 1,220 | 38 | 62 | 8 | - | 2 | 1 | 118 | 1,450 |
| 4 - 6 years | 4 | 201 | - | 195 | 17 | - | 3 | 8 | 299 | 727 |
| 6 - 16 years | 1 | 45 | - | 14 | 5 | - | 3 | 1 | 202 | 271 |
| Totals | 6 | 2,148 | 38 | 287 | 45 | - | 9 | 11 | 715 | 3,259 |
Change in Immunisation Schedule
1. On 1st August 1966 a new Immunisation Schedule was adopted for use in the clinics. In this
schedule the primary immunisation against Poliomyelitis by oral vaccine is carried out at the
same time as the triple immunisation against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough. This
has meant that the number of attendances for immunisation in the child's first year has been
cut by half. The combined course is started at the age of three months and has been given to
children born since 1st May 1966. Because the oral poliomyelitis vaccine is now given at an
earlier age it is necessary for a re-inforcing dose to be given at eighteen months, but this can
be combined with the fourth Triple injection, and so no extra visit is required. Further
re-inforcing doses of Poliomyelitis and Diphtheria-Tetanus vaccine are given at school
entry.
2. The vaccines in use were also modified, and the alum-precipitated toxoids of Diphtheria and
Tetanus have now replaced formol toxiods and T.A.F. The vaccines used at the Clinics are now:-
1. Triple Vaccine (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
2. Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine (DT/Vacc/P.T.A.H.)
3. Diphtheria Vaccine (D/Vacc/P.T.A.H.)
4. Tetanus Vaccine (T/Vacc/P.T.A.H.)
5. Poliomyelitis Vaccine (O.P.V. Sabin Oral Vaccine)
3. The changes in schedule produced two effects on the numbers completing full courses of Primary
Immunisation during 1966.
(a) Many more children completed their Poliomyelitis primary course before the age of one year.
(b) There was a fall in the total number of children completing their Triple immunisation due in
part to starting immunisation a month later at three months instead of at two months which
left a short gap in July 1966.
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