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* These figures include innoculations given by private medical practitionen
under the County Council Scheme from 1.4.53.
The protection is conferred by three injections of whooping
cough vaccine at intervals of four weeks. Because the period of
highest mortality from whooping cough is during the first six
months of life it is recommended that immunisation should be begun
as early as possible, even at as young an age as two months.
Protection against Tuberculosis by B.C.G. Vaccine.
In April, 1952, the approval of the Ministry of Health was
received for Dr. Emslie to carry out B.C.G. vaccination in Leyton.
Thereafter arrangements were made for her to undertake—at the
Essex County Health Services Clinic, Dawlish Road— the preliminary
testing of susceptibility of all Leyton contacts of tuberculosis
under school leaving age, the immunisation by B.C.G. vaccine of
those found to be susceptible, and the subsequent follow-up and
testing of immunised contacts.
I submit Dr. Emslie's report on this work for the year 1953 :—
" At present this is restricted to children who are, or are
likely to be, in contact with the disease ; but is is hoped that
in the near future we shall be able to offer protection to those
about to leave school whether or not they have a known source
of infection. At this age young people are particularly susceptible
to infection, and may unwittingly come in contact with
the disease at work or during travel.
" The total number of children who came for vaccination
against tuberculosis in 1953 was 215. Of these, 53 were found
to be ' Mantoux positive ' and therefore unsuitable for vaccination;
six were postponed for various reasons (usually illness
of some X-ray abnormality); and 23 withdrawn without
having been vaccinated. The remaining 133 were vaccinated
after having had a negative X-ray report and a negative