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57
The World Health Organisation declared London an infected area.
A large number of travellers, therefore, needed vaccination certificates at
very short notice. This included several large parties of school children
from this Borough who were going abroad. The additional burden of
undertaking these vaccinations was dealt with by the Health Department
and approximately 850 travellers were vaccinated.
A party of German school children holidaying in Harrow needed to
be vaccinated before their return. The organisers of the holiday insisted
on the use of German vaccine. Arrangements were made by them for a
German doctor to be flown out with supplies of the special vaccine and
authority was requested for Customs clearance for importation of the
vaccine. Following discussions with the Department of Health & Social
Security it became apparent that little was known in this country about
the German vaccine, and it was decided that the medical staff in Harrow
should not be asked to use this foreign vaccine. Arrangements were made
with the German Embassy regarding the vaccination of these children.
The contacts at the Red Lion Public House were traced with the
helpful co-operation of the landlord.
Tradesmen: Milkmen, coalman, newspaper boys and the Tallyman.
The tallyman sold dresses on the doorstep. He had been to numerous
houses in the area. Mrs. H tried on a dress but did not buy it. The dress
was returned and put back amongst the rest of the tallyman's stock. This
dress was later sold to another customer. The tallyman was traced to
Enfield and appropriate action was taken by the Medical Officer of
Health of that Borough.
The laboratory staff at Edgware General Hospital who were resident
in Harrow and had handled some specimens of blood from Mr. & Mrs. H
were kept under surveillance. They had been vaccinated previously at
Edgware General Hospital.
West Hendon Hospital employees who lived in Harrow, received
appropriate attention.
The car which conveyed Mr. H and his fellow workers to their work
was traced and dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health at Billericay.
Ambulance staff: The ambulance that conveyed Mr. & Mrs. H to
the West Hendon Hospital on 2nd April, was taken out of service on 4th
April after the notification of smallpox. In the interim period it had
conveyed a number of patients to hospitals and institutions. These patients
were traced and vaccinated. One of these patients was an elderly gentleman
who was transported from hospital to the Old People's Home where he
was normally resident. All the staff and residents at the Old People's
Home were vaccinated.
The ambulance itself and the ambulance personnel were dealt with
by the Medical Officer of Health of Brent, in whose area the ambulance
station was situated.