View report page

83
This table clearly shows a decrease in vaccination following
the repeal of compulsory vaccination by the National Health Service
Act of 1946.
Vaccination and Re-vaccination of Public Health Staffs
The Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health in his
Report for 1948, stated that there was a salutary lesson to be
learned from the fact that in the two outbreaks of 1947, 6 persons
belonging to Public Health staffs, etc., contracted Smallpox because
none were protected by recent vaccination and in some instances
there was delay in re-vaccination after exposure.
The Report went on to state that it is the responsibility of
Medical Officers of Health to provide the facilities and the opportunity
to Public Health staffs to maintain their immunity at the
highest possible level, that the vaccinal state of such staff should
be reviewed annually, and that such staff should be re-vaccinated
at yearly intervals.
The staff of the Department who would be expected to deal
with cases of Smallpox, were invited to state their vaccinal condition
and facilities were offered for vaccination or re-vaccination.
The position will be reviewed each year and in the current
year, facilities for vaccination or re-vaccination are being offered
to the whole of the staff of the Health Department.
WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION
Immunisation was first begun in Walthamstow on a trial basis
in the autumn of 1942 and at the first of the war-time day nurseries.
The trials were made in conjunction with Dr. Maclean of St.
Mary's Hospital, who supplied the vaccine.
During 1942, 56 children were immunised. There was a
limited amount of "follow up" and as far as is known, none of
the children contracted whooping cough.
Later, immunisation was extended to other war-time day
nurseries as they were opened, but ceased as supplies of vaccine
became difficult to obtain.
In October, 1947, immunisation was re-commenced with a
commercial vaccine, and has continued since—again with no
recorded case of whooping cough in an immunised child.
During 1947, 58 children were immunised, and 99 during
1948.
In March, 1949, trials were commenced in conjunction with
the Medical Research Council, and parallel with the publicity given
through this scheme, the acceptances for immunisation in older
children, i.e., above the age of 18 months, became very much
increased.