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The parents of those children incompletely protected were
advised that a further dose was necessary, and in those responding
no failure to obtain a negative Schick test was experienced Two
dose method : 326 children, mostly under 8 years of age, were given
two doses of APT, ie, 01 cc—14 days—05 cc All were
Schick negative approximately one month after the second dose
except for 9 Of these, 6 were negative approximately two months
later and the other 3 were not re-tested, ie, by the two dose
APT method only 3 were still possibly Schick positive at two
months, ie, a Schick negative rate of 994 per cent
Relapsed Immunity
(1) One school which gave only 2 per cent Schick positive in
November, 1935, after one dose APT was re-Sohicked on April
14th, 1937 Of 93 children previously Schick negative, 344 per
•cent, had relapsed
(2) Another school which had yielded 29 per cent Schick
positive in April, 1936, after one dose APT showed on May 5th,
1937, 5 Schick positive amongst 40 previously negative, ie, a
relapse rate of 125 per cent, but none amongst 15 who had Ijeen
given a second dose 025 cc APT following their first positive
posterior Schick
In the light of this experience it was decided in the new school
year, ie, September, 1937 to revisit all Infant and Mixed Departments
and to offer a further dose to those children only previously
immunised with the single dose method, and to use the two dose
method (025 cc—14 days—05 cc) in all cases, but omitting the
posterior Schick tests
Up to the end of the year seven schools had been visited and
450 new cases were done and 50 new cases of pre-school age who
were brought by the parents by invitation
By this method it is hoped to secure as many acceptances as
with the old method and at the same time to obtain a better and
more lasting immunity
The weekly immunisation clinic was continued on Tuesday
afternoons, and as far as possible all children over five years are
Schick tested after immunisation in order to control the efficiency
of the prophylactics used Pre-school children who have been protected
are advised to return for a Schick test shortly before being
admitted to school By this means, in future years, it is hoped
to gain valuable information as to the permanency of immunity
following the use of APT