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49
Grand Total of Children in the Borough who had received
immunising treatment by the end of the year:—
(a) Under 5 years 2164
(b) Between 5 and 15 years 3825
Number of Children given boosting doses during 1948:—
Under 5 years 1
(b) Between 5 and 15 years
772
At the 31st December the percentages of children who had
been immunised were as follows:—
0—5 years 69.8%
5—15 years 95.3%
From these figures it will be seen that the Diphtheria Immunisation
Scheme has been actively conducted during the year. The
number of children immunised for the first time was 944 compared
with 683 in 1947. In addition the policy of giving single re-inforcing
doses at appropriate intervals during a child's school life has
been continued.
The materials used are, for children under 10, Alum
Precepitated Toxoid and for children over 10 Toxoid Anti-Toxin
Floccules.
Immunisation Against Whooping Cough.
There has been a growing demand for the immunisation of
young children against whooping cough. During the year 248
children received full courses of the injections compared with 93
in 1947.
The material used is Alum Precepitated Vaccine (Glaxo
Laboratories, Ltd.), and the full course consists of three injections
at monthly intervals.
Reactions have been few, and though no significant statistics
are available, my impression is that the injections are effective.
Immunised children who did contract the disease are very mildly
affected.
In order to reduce the total number of injections a combined
Diphtheria-Whooping Cough Prophylactic will be brought into use
in the near future.