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40
Immunisation against Diphtheria.
Active immunisation against Diphtheria was continued during the year
amongst the children attending the Public Elementary schools in the
District and the Essex County Council which is the Education Authority
in Hornchurch allowed the use of Treatment centres and other premises
for this purpose.
I am much indebted to the County Medical Officer who assisted very
considerably by arranging that I should have the services of the School
Nurses and Health Visitors during the time that the treatment was being
carried out and to the Head Teachers who granted facilities and helped
very materially by assembling the children and in many other ways.
A circular letter explaining the purpose of and offering this treatment
was sent to the parents of children newly entered on the registers of the
schools and at a later date appointments were sent to all who accepted.
The importance of securing immunising treatment especially for the infants
and for young children under school age was emphasized and mothers were
encouraged to bring their young children.
15 schools or departments of schools were visited during the year.
The total number of children who have received a course of treatment
since the scheme began in 1934 is 2,542.
Of the persons who have completed their treatment 1,782 have been
tested at a date usually about 4 months after the last injection and of these
97 per cent. were found to be immune.
The total number of children on the registers of the Elementary schools
in Hornchurch during 1936 was approximately 9,000.
In the following tables are shown the numbers of persons tested before
treatment, the number treated and the number tested after treatment.
The adults who were treated were almost all teachers in the Infants'
Departments.