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Smallpox vaccination is voluntary and every effort is made to
maintain a high immunity level in the population by vaccinating infants
during their early months, This is carried out by general
practitioners and at the Surrey County Council clinics, Vaccination
and re-vaccination is available free for persons of all ages,
Scarlet Fever,
Four cases were notified during 1962, two of which were of
school age, No serious cases or deaths were reported,
As a streptococcal infection scarlet fever is always viewed as
potentially dangerous, Modern drugs however, prove to be a good
weapon, and the illness usually takes a mild form,
Poliomyeliti s,
No oases of poliomyelitis were notified in Kingston during 1962,
Vaccination with Sabin oral vaccine was started in 1962 and has
been increasingly used during the year, The vaccine given by mouth,
not only provides protection but also prevents protected persons from
harbouring natural dangerous poliomyelitis virus and spreading disease
to unprotected persons. This type of vaccine is of great value during
an epidemic because it works quickly.
Oral vaccine is available for the immunisation of persons eligible
under approved local health authority arrangements, i,e, "priority
groups" namely those over six months and under 40 years of age and certain
others at special risk, The following small groups are also
included:-
A, Hospital staff who come in contact with patients,
B, Practising dental surgeons, dental students, dental
hygienists, student hygienists and dental surgeons'
chairside assistants, and their families,
C, Practising nurses not working in hospitals (those
working in hospitals are already eligible) and their
families,
D, Public health staff who may come in contact with
poliomyelitis cases, and their families,
E, Children and young persons bora on or after 1st
January 1933, providing that in the ease of babies
they have reached the age of 6 months,
F, Expectant mothers,