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
Harrow 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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27
The optimum age at which routine vaccination should be performed
was also considered because of complications which sometimes follow
vaccination. Statistics vary from country to country, but the figures
for the United Kingdom suggest that any hazard associated with vaccination
is somewhat less above the age of one year than below it. At
present there is no date from which it is possible to determine whether the
risk varies at different periods of the first year of life. Before this feature
can be investigated changes in the methods of reporting and assessing
complications of vaccination will be necessary and this matter is under
review at present.
In the meantime, the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, in the
light of present information, have now advised that smallpox vaccination
should be offered to children during their first two years of life, but
preferably during the second year.
This report was considered by medical officers on the area staff and
the consensus of opinion was that waiting until the second year before
vaccination against smallpox would cause a falling off in the number of
children presented for smallpox vaccination, and also it was felt there
would be risks of complications in vaccinating an active toddler. It was
decided as a compromise to vaccinate when the child was one year old and
take the opportunity of carrying out this procedure at the child's first
annual medical examination.
The following is the schedule of immunisation at present used in the
area clinics:—
| Age | Type of Immunisation or Vaccination |
|---|---|
| 3-6 months | 1st, 2nd and 3rd "Triple" Diphtheria/ Whooping Cough/Tetanus. |
| 8-10 months | 1st, 2nd and 3rd doses of oral POLIO vaccine. |
| 12-18 months | Smallpox vaccination. |
| 18 months | 4th "TRIPLE" |
| 5 years | "BOOST" injection Diphtheria/Tetanus. "BOOST" dose oral POLIO. |
| 13 years (approx.).. | B.C.G. vaccination against Tuberculosis. |
Chiropody.
Demands on the Chiropody Service were as high as ever during 1963
with the greatest number of requests coming from the elderly. Facilities
are available from chiropodists in private practice, from the British Red
Cross—who can also treat a certain number of homebound cases and
from the services provided by the County Council at certain clinics. As
regards the latter, it was possible to increase the number of sessions being
held each week from twelve to sixteen from October 1963.
Patients who, on account of their medical conditions, require transport
to and from the clinics are taken by ambulance—a medical certificate is
required in support of this facility.