View report page

11
aircraft were close contacts and there were numerous other contacts
made during the days 3rd to 5th October. I was notified of the names
and addresses of contacts resident in the borough, and was able to
re'vaccinate them where necessary and to keep them under surveill'
ance. One resident was a business associate who had been with the
patient in Colombo, in the aircraft, and in their London Office. He
was quarantined at home and kept under close surveillance. No
further cases were reported.
IMMUNISATION AND VACCINATION
This work is organized from the Divisional Health Office, Sheen
Road, Richmond, and is carried out at the Clinics and in the Schools.
Prevention of Diphtheria and Whooping Cough.
The majority of babies are immunized against these two diseases.
Every effort is made to get as high a proportion as possible protected
in the first year of life, but use of separate antigens during the warm
quarters of the year makes this very difficult.
Prevention of Smallpox.
It is estimated that 62.8% of babies under one year old were
vaccinated. This is not high enough but is considerably better than
in many parts of the country.
Prevention of Poliomyelitis.
During the week 16th to 21st May a "Polio Week" was held in
an effort to encourage all those eligible to be vaccinated against
poliomyelitis.
Vaccination centres were set up in appropriate parts of the
borough and were open at times judged to be convenient to the public.
The scheme was advertised in the local paper, by posters and
hoardings, by the local cinemas and by the B.B.C.
The local Civil Defence organization was most helpful in providing
a mobile vaccination centre, a loudspeaker van which provided
admirable publicity and many enthusiastic volunteers who did much
to persuade the public. In addition valuable assistance was given by
members of the B.R.C.S. and St. John Ambulance Brigade as well as
the District Nurses, Health Visitors and staff of the Health Department.
1,132 residents were inoculated during this week and subsequently
arrangements were made for them to receive their second and
third doses.