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Birthday Letters.- Letters were sent to the parents of all
infants following their first birthday and stressing the need
for protection against diphtheria. 904 letters were issued
and 348 infants were brought and protected. 172 infants had
left the district.
Immunisation by General Practitioners.- Diphtheria prophylactic
is available to general practitioners. During 1942, 120 c.c's.
of alum precipitated toxoid were issued: this quantity is
sufficient to protect 120 children.
Scarlet Fever Immunisation.- Dick tests for scarlet fever:Positive,
15; Negative, 20; Total 35.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
Immunisation was begun in Walthamstow in 1932, but the response
at first was slow. The means of publioity were by leaflets
distributed at school inspections, at houses where a case of
infectious disease occurred, at Welfare Centres, by advertising
in the local press and by personal contact when the opportunity
occurred.
Visits to the infants' schools in the town were commenced in
October 1935. Speoial letters were prepared for the parents and
a consent form enclosed which they were asked to sign and to return
to the Head Teacher. Since the soheme began 7,183 have been
immunised, 6,661 of school age and 527 of pre-school age.
In addition 1,880 children previously immunised have received an
extra dose.
The immunisation campaign was further intensified in 1937 when
it was realised that many ohildren under 5 years of age were not
being reached. It was accordingly decided to send a birthday
letter to parents soon after the child's first birthday stressing
the need for immunisation and advising them to visit the next
immunisation clinic at the Town Hall. During the five years the
soheme has been in force 5,691 births have been notified in the
district, Of these, 1,213 had moved out of the district or died
before reaching their first birthday, so only 4,478 letters have
been sent out. Of these 1,430 have been immunised.
The Health Visitors do their best to influence the mothers
when they visit the homes, and are notified when ohildren under
5 years of age are protected. Immunisation has recently been
given at the Welfare Centres. During the last quarter of 1942,
the average weekly attendance for immunisation sessions was 11,1
at the rate of 577 per annum. There are'also facilities at school
immunisation sessions for mothers to take their children of
pre-school age, This is often more convenient for the busy mother
because the school is nearer the home than the Town Hall or Welfare
Centre, The Head Teachers have kindly co-operated in this scheme
and thus facilitated its working. Immunisation is also carried
out at the War-time Day Nurseries in the town.
INFESTATION BY HEAD LICE.
During the year the new Lethane treatment was tried out
extensively with very successful results.
Advioe and treatment is now available at all Clinics and
Welfare Centres. The unsatisfactory homes have been classified
with regard to cleanliness as suggested in Circulars issued by
the Ministry of Health and special supervision given where
necessary.
Great difficulty occurs in some homes on account of mothers
being at work and in consequence the work of the Health Visitors
and School Nurses has increased considerably.
17.