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Marie Curie Foundation Day and Night Nursing Service
The Foundation nurses continue to provide a much appreciated day
and night service in terminal cases of malignancy. The department has had
available the services of three Foundation nurses and 23 cases were nursed
in 1968. These were all night nursings, and provided the relatives with much
needed assistance.
Section 26 Vaccination and Immunisation
In January, 1968, following a review of the schedules of immunisation
in childhood the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
recommended that these be replaced by a single schedule. In accordance
with the recommendations of the Joint Committee the following procedure
was adopted with effect from the 29th January, 1968:-
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis and oral Polio 1st dose at 3 months
2nd dose at 5 months
3rd dose at 9 months
Smallpox vaccination 15 months
Diphtheria/Tetanus and oral Polio 4½ years
Smallpox re-vaccination 5 years.
The boosting dose of triple vaccine and polio vaccine previously
recommended to be given during the second year of life is now considered
to be unnecessary if the primary three dose schedule spaced as above is
followed. The new schedule recommends a later starting age, extends
intervals between doses, eliminates the 18 month booster and recommends
smallpox re-vaccination at age 5 years.
In May, 1968, vaccine to prevent measles was made available and
arrangements were made to offer vaccination to all children between the
ages of 13 months and 15 years who were susceptible to an attack of
measles because they had neither been immunised nor had natural measles.
In the first instance as the amount of vaccine was not sufficient to meet all
demands, only susceptible children who were between their 4th and 7th
birthdays and children attending day nurseries and nursery schools were
immunised. However, as vaccine supplies increased other groups in the
agreed age range were offered immunisation during the year.
Management of vaccination and immunisation procedures by
computer was introduced during 1967 and continued to work well during
the year. The procedure works in the following way:-
On receipt of a birth notification or when details of a child moving
into the Borough are received, the health visitor calls and completes a
form. Details from this form are then transferred to magnetic tape. When
a vaccination or immunisation session is prepared the computer produces a
list of children showing name, reference number and which dose of a
particular course is due. At the same time as the list is prepared appointment
cards are printed showing name, reference number, details of dose due
and date and time of appointment. Following the session the relevant
details are recorded by the computer and any child not immunised at that