London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Walthamstow 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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52
LABORATORY SERVICES
The following number of swabs were sent to Epping Laboratory
during the year :—
School Medical Service 249
Health Department 245
VACCINATION
Mr. E. Meddings, Vaccination Officer for the area until 5th
July, 1948, has furnished the following return up to that date
Births Successfully Percentage Deathsbefore Post'
Registered Vaccinated Vaccinated ceptible tions Vaccination poned
1,005 433 43 — 351 15 12
The figures for the latter half of the year from July 5th
onwards, i.e., following the repeal of compulsory vaccination, are
given below :—
Births Registered Successfully Vaccinated Percentage Vaccinated
840 145 17
During 1948, the vaccinal condition of all school children
examined at Routine Medical Inspections was recorded, and a
summary of the findings for the year showed that 24.6 per cent.
were vaccinated.
PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS
No action was necessary under Section 176 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, for the prevention of blindness or the treatment
of persons suffering from any disease of, or injury to, the eyes.
SMALLPOX
There were no notifications of this disease during the year.
Smallpox Contacts.— Contacts were reported for surveillance
on disembarkation from several transports and were cleared after
close observation.
In view of the more recent experience (in 1949) following
from the "Mooltan" incident, it appears highly desirable to insist
that all persons entering this country after passing through areas
where smallpox is endemic should have been recently vaccinated
or revaccinated.