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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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92
Number of children at 31st December, 1957, who had
completed a course of immunisation at any time before that date
(i.e., at any time since 1st January, 1943):—
Under 1 (born 1957) 303
1—4 (born 1956-53) 3,537
5—9 (born 1952-48) 7,217
10—14 (born 1947-43) 8,557
Total immunised under 15 years 19,614
Letters were sent to the parents of all newly born children
advising them of the need to avail themselves of the facilities for
diphtheria immunisation and the Medical and Health Visiting Staffs
have maintained a system of personal persuasion.
The publicity material issued by the Ministry of Health was
displayed on the Borough Council's notice boards during the period
when advertisements appeared in the local Press.
IMMUNISATION AGAINST WHOOPING COUGH
The numbers and age groups of children immunised during the year are shown in the following table:—
| Age at date of Final Injection | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 mths. | 6—12 mths. | 1 year | 2—4 years | 5 years and over | Total | |
| Clinics, Nurseries and Welfare Centres | 205 | 275 | 32 | 11 | 2 | 525 |
| General Practitioners | 101 | 264 | 65 | 24 | 9 | 463 |
| Total | 306 | 539 | 97 | 35 | 11 | 988 |
In addition general practitioners gave 47 booster injections.
The percentage of children immunised during the first year of
life was 63.
VACCINATION AGAINST POLIOMYELITIS
This scheme was first announced in January, 1956, and initially
provided for the vaccination of children born only in the years
1947 to 1954 inclusive. The number of children registered in
Walthamstow to receive protection was 3,180. In May, 1957 the
Minister of Health authorised the offer of vaccination to children
born in the years 1955 and 1956, and also recommended that a
further opportunity should be given to the parents of children born
in the years 1947 to 1954 to register them if they had not hitherto
accepted the offer of vaccination.