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Parents receive a letter once each year, informing them of
the proposed school visit so that they may be present if they so
desire. The letter also reminds parents of the value of immunisation.
This letter brings the value of immunisation to the notice of
every Wood Green parent at least once every twelve months, and
enables the Area Health Office to offer reinforcing injections
(required every four to five years) to all children throughout their
school life in Wood Green.
The latest figures would appear to show that 84% of Wood
Green school children have been fully protected against diphtheria
by immunisation, 66% of children under the age of five have also
been protected. The continued absence of diphtheria from the
borough would indicate that our present policy is having the
desired effect.
3. Apart from our yearly letters to the parents of school children,
propaganda advocating immunisation is carried out by the display
of leaflets at our Welfare Centres and in the Public Health Depart'
ment, by occasional articles in the Press, during talks to local
organizations and parent/teacher associations, and by the advice
of the Middlesex County Council Health Visitors, both in the
clinic and in the home. This continuous policy of health education
is reinforced approximately once each year by a short, more
extensive campaign sponsored by the County Council.
4. Apart from the immunisation carried out by the Area Health
Staff, similar protection can be supplied by most family doctors.
Material for immunisation against diphtheria is supplied free of
charge through the Area Health Office.
During the year, 560 children were immunised for the first
time in Wood Green. Two hundred and fifty-five of these children
were immunised against diphtheria only, 305 being immunised
against diphtheria and pertussis. During the same period, 1,844
children received reinforcing injections.
As already indicated, immunisation is carried out in Wood
Green by the Middlesex County Council. As Area Medical Officer,
I have put forward certain suggestions based on recent scientific
advances to extend our scheme, mainly in the direction of offering
immunisation for the first time at an earlier age, and enlarging the
protection afforded by combined inoculation against diphtheria and
pertussis.
The Borough Council can be assured that immunisation against
diphtheria, either alone or in conjunction with pertussis, is constantly
under review, and that it is being actively pursued in Wood
Green.
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