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POLIOMYELITIS VACCINATION.
Towards the end of 1957 an extension of the poliomyelitis vaccination
scheme was announced to include (a) all children between 6 months
and 15 years, (b) expectant mothers, (c) general practitioners and their
families, (d) ambulance staff and their families.
The extension of the scheme was made possible by the importation
of Salk vaccine from America and Canada and a start on the vaccination
of the new groups was commenced early in 1958. Consent forms
were distributed to all schools in Wimbledon, including the independent
schools, and were also available at the County Council's Clinics, private
doctors surgeries, Welfare Food Distribution Centres, and the Town
Hall.
The initial response was very good, so much so that in the first
six months, temporary shortages of vaccine occurred, this being due
primarily to the fact that the imported Salk vaccine had to go through
tests in this country before use. This double testing was later discontinued
on the advice of the Medical Research Council and supplies
of vaccine became plentiful.
In October the scheme was further extended to young persons from
15-25 years and by the inclusion of a third reinforcing injection to be
given not less than seven months after the second injection.
Despite the very good response from the children in the under 15
years age group (over 69% were vaccinated during the year) applications
for vaccination from those over 15 years was, initially, very disappointing.
In an effort to encourage those over 15 years to be vaccinated,
open Clinics were started, both in the evening and on Saturday mornings,
where vaccination could be carried out without prior appointment, but
most of the work on these older age groups was done in 1959 and does
not therefore belong to this Renort.

Number of persons given reinforcing doses during 1958 - 3,550
42