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Section 26 VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Vaccination and Immunisation Arrangements - In September 1961 the
Minister of Health issued a memorandum to Local Health Authorities
summarising certain advice he had received from the Standing Medical
Advisory Committee regarding the timing of various immunisation
procedures in childhood - and setting forth two alternative schedules
of immunisation.
Both schedules provided for the use of combined antigens, i.e.
an admixture of vaccines to confer simultaneous immunity against
Diphtheria, Whooping Cough and Tetanus, thereby reducing the number
of injections a child would need to receive in order to be given
protection against these three diseases.
The Minister's recommendations were considered by the Health
Committee of the Essex County Council and authority given for the
provision, in future, of supplies of combined antigens, in addition
to the usual single antigens.
The Council stipulated that immunisation against Tetanus was,
for the time being, to be restricted to school children and preschool
children.
These arrangements provided a suitable opportunity for revision
of the various types of record card in use in the County and for the
introduction of a 'Master ' Record Card, retained in Health Area
Offices, on which details of all protective innoculations given to
individuals are recorded.
In addition a 'Personal' Record Card giving similar information
for retention by the patient was devised.
Combined antigens and the new types of Record Cards were introduced
in the Walthamstow Health Area from the beginning of 1962.
Sab in Vaccine - A major development in the arrangements for routine
vaccination against Poliomyelitis occurred during 1962. In February
the Minister of Health notified Local Health Authorities that he had
decided, after receiving advice as to its safety and reliability, to
make Oral Vaccine available for the vaccination of persons eligible
under the scheme.
The recommended course of primary vaccination with this material
consists of three doses, each of these drops, given at intervals of
four to eight weeks. It can be administered in a spoonful of glucose
syrup to babies or on a lump of sugar in the case of older children
or adults.
Oral Vaccine can also be used to give reinforcing doses to
children who have had three previous injections of Salk Vaccine.
Supplies of the new type of Vaccine were received in Walthamstow
in March and were quickly brought into use by General Practitioners
and at the various County Council Clinics in the Health Area.