London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION
| Year | Regd. Births | Age at Immunisation | Percentage Immunised to Population in Age Groups | Notified Cases | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 yr. | 1-2 yrs. | 2-3 yrs. | 3-4 yrs. | 4-5 yrs. | Total 0-5 yrs. | School Age | Over School Age | Grand Total | % 0-1 to Total Births | % 0-5 yrs. | %/ 5-15 yrs. | % 0-15 yrs. | Admitted to Hospital | Diagnosis Confirmed | Deaths | ||
| 1947 | 2,670 | 719 | 869 | Ill | 68 | 77 | 1,844 | 810 | 4 | 2,658 | 26.9 | 52.4 | 86.0 | 72.2 | 38 | 0 | — |
| 1948 | 2,068 | 1,076 | 780 | 105 | 41 | 47 | 2,049 | 662 | 1 | 2,712 | 52.0 | 61.5 | 91.5 | 79.2 | 34 | 1 | — |
| 1949 | 1,836 | 1,112 | 391 | 63 | 60 | 32 | 1,648 | 304 | 1 | 1,953 | 60.5 | 62.5 | 96.2 | 82.1 | 20 | 0 | — |
| 1950 | 1,598 | 707 | 288 | 29 | 31 | 18 | 1,073 | 261 | — | 1,334 | 44.2 | 60.5 | 96.5 | 81.9 | 11 | 1 | — |
| 1951 | 1,637 | 670 | 442 | 59 | 22 | 19 | 1,212 | 265 | — | 1,477 | 40.9 | 58.1 | 99.3 | 83.0 | 11 | — | — |
| 1952 | 1,512 | 723 | 361 | 48 | 24 | 18 | 1,174 | 412 | — | 1,586 | 47.8 | 49.4 | 98.3 | 79.6 | 10 | — | — |
115 children were given "combined" diphtheria/whooping cough immunisation by general practitioners,
but the prophylactic was not supplied by the Local Authority. These are included in the total on the previous
page.
There have only been two confirmed cases of diphtheria in the last six years, and no deaths.
On the other hand, the fall in the number of children immunised, especially in the 0-1 age group, gives
rise to misgiving, especially since the target of immunisation in this group is 75% of babies born before reaching
the age of one year.
The Ministry of Health, in Circular 8/53 in regard to the Publicity Campaign for Diphtheria Prophylaxis,
considers that co-operation on this matter is essential between local councils and the County Councils as local
health authorities.
During the past five years the percentages immunised in the
various age groups were as follows :—
89