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64
ARTIFICIAL IMMUNISATION AGAINST DIPHTHERIA.
In December, 1934, I presented to the Public Health Committee
a special report in which attention was drawn to the increase in the
fatality rate from diphtheria during the years 1933 and 1934. The
experience in Leyton during these years agreed with reports from
other parts of the country to the effect that—since 1932—there had
occurred a marked increase in the severity of the type of disease met
with in many cases.
In that report attention was directed to recent methods of
protecting children against diphtheria and to the following statement
of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health:—
"No Local Authority responsible for the health of children
should be satisfied that it has done its duty until every parent
knows that his children can be inoculated against diphtheria
with safety and with reasonable certainty of complete protection."
After consideration of that report the Council passed the following
resolution at the end of January, 1935.
"Resolved—That facilities be provided for immunisation
against Diphtheria of the children of those persons who desire
such treatment to be given, free of charge; that the Medical
Officer of Health be authorised to prepare and carry out a
scheme for giving effect to this decision and to take such steps
as he may consider desirable to advertise these facilities by
advertisement, poster notices or otherwise; and that, subject
to the confirmation of this recommendation by the Council,
the Education and Maternity and Child Welfare Committees
be requested to co-operate with this Committee in the dissemination
of information with reference to the matter."
Diphtheria Immunisation Clinics.
In the month of February, 1935, the first municipal clinic for
immunisation of children against diphtheria was established. To
begin with it was possible to deal with all cases at one weekly clinic,
but it soon became evident that two weekly clinics would be
necessary in order to deal with the large numbers of children presented
for treatment. Since the opening of the new Park House
Clinic in September, 1935, one special weekly session at each of
the clinics has been devoted to diphtheria immunisation, viz.:-
Leyton Green Clinic.—Thursday afternoons.
Park House Clinic.—Friday afternoons.