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Final Test of Susceptibility.
As a period of a few months must elapse from the time of
inoculation until the child is sufficiently protected to resist an
attack of diphtheria, the Final Schick Test is performed three
months after the date of the last inoculation.
Attendances.
The great drawback to more widespread advantage being taken
of immunisation against diphtheria is the number of attendances
to lie made.
In children submitted to the initial Schick Test and found to
be susceptible, the following attendances are necessary (assuming
that the first attendance he made on 1st January).
1. 1st January—Initial Schick test.
2. 8th January—Estimation of result of initial Schick test.
First protective inoculation.
3. 15th January—Second protective inoculation.
4. 9th April—Final Schick test.
5. 16th April—Estimation of result of final Schick test. Grant
of certificate of immunity.
It will be seen that the full course of immunisation outlined
above entails five attendances spread over a period of about
31 months.
By dispensing with the initial Schick test the number of attendances
is reduced to four, and the period is reduced by one week.
Immunisation by Private Medical Practitioners.
In order to encourage the protective inoculation by private
medical practitioners of Leyton children whose parents do not wish
to attend the municipal clinics, the Council decided that facilities
should exist for the supply of diphtheria toxoid-antitoxin, free of
charge, to local medical practitioners on condition that they supply
the Medical Officer of Health with the necessary particulars regarding
the persons immunised and adequate proof of the results of immunisation.
The following are the particulars regarding Leyton
children who attended private medical practitioners during the
year:—
Number of private medical practitioners who applied
for supplies of toxoid-antitoxin 9
Number of children immunised 21