London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Leyton 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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118
SECTION 26
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
| Age at date of Vaccination | Under 6 months | 6-12 months | 1 year | 2-4 years | 5-14 years | 15 years and over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number Vaccinated | 221 | 104 | 29 | 20 | 21 | 83 | 478 |
| Number re-Vaccinated | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 177 | 184 |
Diphtheria Immunisation.
During the year, by the exhibition of posters at the Clinics and surgeries
of private medical attendants and Press advertising, we have been participating
in the campaign to secure immunisation of not less than 75% of babies before
their first birthday.
The incidence of diphtheria continues to fall; but only if an adequate
level of immunisation is maintained can this country be rid of diphtheria
altogether. If parents leave their children unprotected there may well be
outbreaks.
Continuous publicity is therefore essential to prevent parents of young children being lulled into a false sense of complacency by the dramatic fall in the incidence of diphtheria and the rarity of its occurrence among the children of friends and neighbours.
| Age (in years) at final injection | Children* who completed a full course of primary immunisation during the year | Children * who were given a reinforcing injection during the year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By General Practitioners | By County Staff | By General Practitioners | By County Staff | |
| Under 1 | 227 | 345 | — | — |
| 1 | 118 | 193 | — | — |
| 2 | 11 | 26 | 1 | — |
| 3 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 53 |
| 5-9 | 10 | 26 | 76 | 194 |
| 10-14 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 22 |
| Total | 389 | 618 | 113 | 270 |
*Including temporary residents.