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
Havering 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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The following is an estimate of the proportion of children
aged 1 year who received a primary course of immunisation
during 1968.
TABLE 19
| Havering | Average England and Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 91% | 78% |
| Whooping Cough | 85% | 76% |
| Tetanus | 90% | Not available |
| Poliomyelitis | 90% | 74% |
64% of children under the age of two received primary
vaccination against smallpox, against the national average
of 38%.
A new immunisation and vaccination schedule was introduced
towards the end of the year. This schedule is designed to give
life long protection against certain diseases, based on primary
protection in infancy with reinforcment doses at the ages of five
and fifteen. Immunisation can no longer be thought of as a matter
affecting only young infants.
The success of immunisation programmes in eradicating
diseases such as diphtheria and poliomyelitis, carries the risk
of encouraging complacency. However it is vital that high
immunisation rates are maintained both to protect the individual
and to prevent the possibility of an epidemic.
A total of 12,962 reinforcement doses were given during the
year as shown in the following table:—
TABLE 20
| Type of Antigen | No. of Re-inforcing Doses | |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1967 | |
| Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus/Poliomyelitis | — | - |
| Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus | 2698 | 2031 |
| Diphtheria/Pertussis | — | 4 |
| Diphtheria/Tetanus | 3823 | 2937 |
| Diphtheria | 215 | 597 |
| Pertussis | 25 | 105 |
| Tetanus | 572 | 450 |
| Poliomyelitis (salk vaccine) | — | 28 |
| Poliomyelitis (Sabine vaccine) | 5829 | 4437 |
| Smallpox vaccination | 594 | 375 |