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The Soviet Union embarked on a mass vaccination programme in
1959, using a live-virus vaccine given by the mouth, the aim being to treat
the entire population under the age of 20 by the end of 1960.
Inoculation.
This year was the first time the arrangements for inoculating sections
of the population against poliomyelitis ran smoothly, there being sufficient
material at all times except a short period in April. Towards the end of
the year, by which time the large volume of additional work entailed
by the decision to extend the course to three doses had been disposed of,
inoculation against poliomyelitis was assuming the hoped-for pattern in
that most of the work was that of giving babies their routine inoculations.
The following is a summary of the work done during the year:—
20,957 persons received two injections. These comprised 8,875 children
under 15 years of age, 10,369 in the 15 to 25 age group. 1,324 expectant
mothers, 46 general medical practitioners and their families, 6 ambulance
staff and 337 hospital staff. 30,607 persons received their third injections.
166 persons had received only the one injection by the end of the year.
MEASLES
The rise in the number of cases notified in the later weeks of 1958
continued into the earlier weeks of 1959. In January the average number
of notifications each week was 140. In February it rose to 211, the month
of greatest prevalence. In the week ending February 21st, 235 cases were
notified, this being the greatest number of notifications ever received in
the district in any one week. There was a sharp decline to a weekly average
of 84 in March, and a further fall to 69 in April. Declines in the next
two months led to the virtual freedom of the district from this infection.
In all, 2,323 cases were notified. The average number of notifications
each week in the first quarter was 143; in the second 36, in the third 4
and only 1.5 in the last quarter. In general, the clinical attack was mild,
though there was one fatal case. Only 7 sufferers were admitted to
hospital.
In the early weeks of the year when the infections was especially
prevalent, a number of schools were heavily attacked, these including
the infant and junior departments of Aylward, Glebe, Kenmore, Longfield,
Pinner Park, Priestmead and West Lodge. Those schools which
had been attacked in the autumn term of the previous year escaped, most
°f them almost completely.
WHOOPING COUGH
This district was very free from whooping cough throughout the year,
only 33 cases being notified. Of these, half occurred in the last weeks of
the year. No persons suffering from whooping cough were removed to
ospital, and there were no fatalities from this infection.
Inoculation. During the year, 2,272 children were inoculated
against whooping cough, 1,309 by general practitioners and 963 at the
clinics.