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Section 26 — Vaccination and Immunisation
The revised schedule of immunisation recommended by the Joint
Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and introduced in January
1968 was used during 1969. This schedule is as follows:-
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis and oral Polio
Measles
Smallpox vaccination
Diphtheria/Tetanus and oral Polio
Smallpox re-vaccination
1st dose at 3 months
2nd dose at 5 months
3rd dose at 9 months
13 months
15 months
4½ years
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.
Due to the shortage of measles vaccine in 1968 it was not possible to
offer vaccination to all susceptible children between the ages of 13 months
and 15 years. In the first instance only susceptible children who were
between their fourth and seventh birthdays and children attending day
nurseries and nursery schools were immunised. Unfortunately due to some
technical problems, the vaccine was not available from March to September
1969 and then only available in small quantities until December 1969,
with a resulting curtailment in the measles vaccination programme.
Management of vaccination and immunisation procedures by
computer was introduced during 1967 and continued to work well during
the year.
The following table show the numbers of children under sixteen who
completed vaccination or immunisation during 1969. The figures compare
favourably with those for 1968.