View report page

Certain employments more than others carry with them the
risk of tetanus wound infection and any injury under these conditions
will demand the giving of anti-tetanus serum.
The only means of avoiding both the danger of contracting
tetanus and the danger of serum reaction is by tetanus immunisation.
In those so protected injury calls for simply a small boost
dose of toxoid and there is no need for administration of serum.
Tetanus Immunisation was first made available through local
Health Authorities in 1960, and since then has been offered each
year to all our infants, pre-school and school children. Accordingly
by now most young people up to the age of 18 have had the opportunity
of this protection and have widely availed themselves of it.
This, however, leaves almost the entire adult population unprotected,
including certain groups particularly at risk. Such groups employed
by local authorities include parks, building, roads, sewer and refuse
collection and disposal staff. An effort has been made in Southgate
this year to put matters right in this respect, and all such staff have
been offered tetanus immunisation. There has been a very good
initial response and it is hoped that it may be possible to continue
this measure as a local authority service.
The changing pattern of infectious disease over the last few
years leaves no room for doubt as to the efficiency of immunisation
as a means of control. It is interesting to consider the age groups
of our present population who are so protected from various
infectious diseases.
Smallpox. The population at all ages have had the opportunity
of smallpox vaccination. The response of the adult population is
directly related to any occurrence of smallpox in the vicinity. As
regards the child population, however, fortunately the response is
consistent and high. Every month, each Health Visitor records the
vaccination state of all children currently reaching the age of 2. In
the majority of cases, a vaccination record card is available and if
not, a home visit is paid, so that records are accurate. In Southgate
the percentage of children at 2 years old who have been successfully
vaccinated has risen from 68% in 1955, when this method.' of followup
was commenced, to 88.9% for 1963.
Diphtheria. A very high percentage of the population from
infancy to adults aged 38 to 40 years have received diphtheria
immunisation. Diphtheria immunisation was carried out to some
extent in the late 1930's but it was in 1940 that a campaign was
launched in Middlesex offering immunisation to all children up to
school-leaving age. There was an immediate massive response with
soon afterwards a spectacular drop in the cases of diphtheria.
29