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75
Protection against Whooping Cough.
In my last Annual Report I submitted a full report containing
recommendations for the initiation in this area of a controlled
investigation into the efficacy of whooping cough vaccines in
collaboration with the Medical Research Council. At their meeting
held on 9th September, 1948, the County Health Committee
approved the recommendations. Dr. Menzies left the area medical
staff in that month and it was not possible to put the new scheme
into operation until early in January by holding special clinics
alternately at Park House and Leyton Green Health Centres.
Unfortunately there is no available suitable accommodation in the
Health Department Office for the clerical and administrative work
to be carried out.
When arrangements were made for this investigation in Leyton
in collaboration with the Medical Research Council, it was on the
understanding that in this area the Leyton contribution to the
investigation would be in respect of 1,000 cases. At the present
rate of progress we shall soon reach our investigation total of
1,000 cases ; and, in order that some decision may be arrived at
with regard to the advisability of providing protection against
whooping cough, I submit the following extract from a recent
Report by the Medical Research Council on the progress of the
investigation so far :—
. . Seven of the earlier trials, comprising a total of
4,691 test and control children, have now been in progress for
two years ; and from a preliminary analysis of the results
the following general conclusions may be drawn :—
(1) In six of the trials the incidence and severity of
whooping cough in the test groups have been appreciably
less than in the control groups. In the seventh trial the
results have been only slightly more favourable in the
test group.
(2) There has been considerable variation in the
prophylactic efficacy of vaccines from different sources
and of different batches of vaccine from the same source.
(3) One particular type of vaccine, not at present
available in this country, has been found to give much
better protection against the disease than any of the
others tested."