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An improved whooping cough vaccine, giving better protection
with fewer side effects, became available during the
year and was immediately introduced into use.
Smallpox protection rates are not high enough. Recent
events have shown that rapid travel around the world can lead
to wide-spread exposure to infection. Ring vaccination has
successfully contained every potential outbreak in recent years,
but it cannot be guaranteed that this will always be so. It must
also be borne in mind that many travellers require vaccination
in adult life to obtain International Certificates of Vaccination,
when the risks of primary vaccination are much greater than
during the second year of life.
Detailed measles protection figures are not available but
it is clear that rates are nothing like high enough to eradicate
the disease, which is the final aim of the programme.
Rates of acceptance of B.C.G. immunisation by 12 or 13
year old children are somewhat disappointing. The protection
against tuberculosis goes on for many years — the first children
to be routinely immunised over 15 years ago still show high
levels of immunity. Fear of the trivial injection still plays a part
in some children's reluctance. The procedure is carried out at
school during the second year in secondary school, and parents
are strongly advised to make sure that their children are protected.
Overseas travel
Overseas travellers are advised to obtain detailed advice
from their travel agents on current vaccination requirements for
the particular countries they are visiting. Apart from the legal
requirements of smallpox or yellow fever immunisation applicable
to certain areas travellers to all parts of the world, except
Scandinavian countries and the U.S.A., would be wise to obtain
protection against typhoid and poliomyelitis. Family doctors can
give all vaccines except yellow fever, which is only available
at Unilever House, Blackfriars, or the Hospital for Tropical
Diseases, St. Pancras.
Immunisation of adults for purposes of travel is not undertaken
at the health and welfare clinics, although arrangements
are made for the protection of parties of school children travelling
overseas.
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