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In November of the same year it was announced that the scheme
for vaccination could be further extended to include children born in
the years 1943 to 1946 inclusive. A further extension has been made
to include young persons born in the years 1933 to 1942. This means
that in addition to the normal priority groups of expectant mothers
and certain special groups of individuals particularly exposed to the
risk of infection, such as general medical practitioners, vaccination is
available to all persons born in the years 1933 to 1958 inclusive.
It is interesting to note that when the last extension of the eligible
age groups was made a particularly poor acceptance rate was attained
until such time as the death of a noted sportsman occurred, when a
heavy increase in applications was received.
During 1958 5,562 persons received their primary course of two
injections and 294 received a third injection.
PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
The work under this Section of the Act is mainly concerned with
Tuberculosis and I am indebted to Dr. H. Duff-Palmer, Consultant
Physician to the Wanstead and Woodford Chest Clinic at Harts
Hospital for the following report.
"Thirty-two new cases of tuberculosis were notified during the
year as compared with thirty in 1957. One hundred and eighty-one
new contacts and six hundred and forty-seven old contacts were
examined. B.C.G. Vaccination was given to sixty-four children. The
value of a contact examination, tedious and unspectacular as it is, is
shown in the following case:- a girl of sixteen was found to have a
tuberculous pleural effusion. Investigation of the family contacts was
carried out, and as a result the father was proved to be suffering from
tuberculosis. Four thousand two hundred and eighty-one X-ray
examinations were made as compared with four thousand two
hundred and sixty-five in the previous year.
The close liaison with the Medical Officer of Health and his Department
has been referred to in a previous report. This co-operation
ensures that tuberculous patients have the maximum amount of social
help that can be provided, which is so necessary to the maintenance
of their health and morale.
Although I am glad to report that tuberculosis is a declining
disease, it still presents many problems necessitating continual
vigilance and there is certainly no room for a complacent attitude.
The reduction and eventual elimination of all sources of infection
requires efficient treatment, often going on as long as two years and
followed up by long term supervision of the tuberculous patient, his
family and their home environment.
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