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60
Vaccination Against Poliomyelitis.—In 1957 batches of vaccine were
received at approximately monthly intervals from March onwards and
the vaccination programme continued as speedily as possible so far as
these limited supplies allowed. General Practitioners have participated in
the scheme since March 1957 and as each batch of vaccine has been
received this has been allocated between the clinics and those doctors in
the scheme in proportion to the number of registrations held.
Some 5,400 children born in the years 1947 to 1954 inclusive who
were registered by the appointed date in 1956, i.e. the 10th April, were
still awaiting vaccination at the 1st January 1957. In May 1957 the
Minister of Health decided that the offer of vaccination, to be undertaken
when the vaccination of those children was completed, should be extended
in the first place to children born in the years 1955 and 1956 and then
to all children born in 1947 to 1954 inclusive who were not registered when
the first offer was made early in 1956. Publicity was given to this in the
local as well as in the national press and a communication was sent to
the parents of all children born in 1955 and 1956 of whom we had record
inviting registrations. Approximately 57% of the children born in 1955
and 1956 were registered as a result of this, compared with 29% of the
1947 to 1954 group registered early in 1956, and by mid-September 1957
some 2,000 additional children in the latter group had been registered.
Vaccination of these groups in the extended scheme commenced towards
the end of the year.
Late in 1957 the Minister of Health decided upon a further extension
of the scheme to include children born in the years 1943 to 1946 inclusive,
children born in 1957 who had reached the age of six months and expectant
mothers. At the same time he indicated that supplies of imported
Salk vaccine would be available for distribution with a view to accelerating
the vaccination programme, but parents and expectant mothers were to
be given an opportunity of refusing this, although such refusals would
no doubt mean some delay in arranging vaccination. The Minister further
decided that when increased supplies of vaccine were available as a result
of importing Salk vaccine, vaccination should be offered to general practitioners
and ambulance staff and to the families of these two groups.
With the co-operation of the Borough Education Officer the issue of consent
forms for the 1943 to 1946 group was made through the schools in
December 1957, forms were sent by post to parents of children born in
1957 who had reached the age of six months, and expectant mothers were
given the opportunity of registering at the ante-natal clinics or through the
domiciliary midwives; in addition press publicity was given to the extension.
At the time of writing this report some 21,000 persons, approximately
58% of the eligible population in Ilford, have been registered, and in view
of the large supplies of imported vaccine received in 1958, to supplement
the still limited deliveries of British vaccine, it has been possible to complete
the vaccination of the majority of these. Apart from those cases
where the use of British vaccine is insisted upon it is now possible to
offer vaccination almost as soon as application is made.
The statistics given opposite show the vaccinations carried out at the
Clinics in 1957 and the record cards received from general practitioners
during that year in resDect of comoleted courses (two injections) carried
out by them.
To ensure that the programme could proceed with all
possible speed when supplies of vaccine were received, to obviate so far
as possible long journeys for the children and their parents and to economise
on medical staff, many of the sessions at the Mayesbrook and Newbury
Hall Clinics were combined with school clinics and at the Manford Way
Clinic with infant welfare centres.