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supplying reinforcing closes of immunising material against
diphtheria. All the children attending each school were given
a letter addressed to parents in which the need for supplying
a reinforcing dose every four to five years was emphasised.
The parents completed a tear-off slip, which was returned to
the school. The letter stated a date on which the Medical
Officer of Health or a member of his staff would visit the
school for the purpose of immunising children. This system
has worked very well and means that parents receive a yearly
reminder of the need for reinforcing doses. It has also meant
that many children attending Southgate schools are now receiving
their second reinforcing dose. I am at present
obtaining information which should allow us to assess the
degree of immunisation which exists in our schools. Although
this information is not yet complete, there is every reason
to believe that at least 90% of all children attending our
maintained and larger private schools are fully protected.
(d) A weekly clinic for immunisation against pertussis and
for the carrying out of Schick tests was held each Monday
afternoon in Broomfield House. The response to our campaign
for immunisation against pertussis was reasonably
satisfactory, especially when one remembers that most of
our young children are now being immunised against
diphtheria and pertussis combined. The information which
we have so far collected, although not sufficient to justify
definite conclusions, leads one to believe that immunisatipn
against pertussis does afford protection against the disease,
particularly in the direction of modifying the severity of an
attack. It is also worthy of note that the Schick test carrjed
out three months after immunisation against diphtheria and
pertussis combined reveals a higher degree of protection than
was the case when immunisation against diphtheria alone was
practised. It might also be mentioned that the number of
reactions following immunisation has decreased during the
last few years. This factor no longer possesses any real
significance.
(e) Apart from the sending of cards and letters to parents,
opportunity was taken at our various clinics and centres to
impress the need for immunisation on all mothers and
expectant mothers. The magazine "Better Health" and the
local press were also used for propaganda purposes, with the
exhibition of posters and the use of trailer films in cinemas.
During 1948, 1,260 children were immunised against
diphtheria, either alone or in conjunction with pertussis; 1,026
children were immunised against pertussis, either alone or in
conjunction with diphtheria. The total number of visits paid to
our immunisation clinics during the period under review was 7,711.
In addition to the above, 2,242 reinforcing injections against
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