London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Richmond upon Thames 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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The following table shows the percentages of children immunized in various age groups for the past three years.
| Age Group. | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 66.3 | 77.2 | 72.0 |
| 1—4 | 82.1 | 82.9 | 73.2 |
| 5 — 15 | 96.0 | 96.1 | 96.3 |
It is unfortunate that there has been a fall in the percentage of
children immunized in the lower age groups.
This is due to a number of causes, including the policy of avoiding
combined antigens during the months when poliomyelitis is likely to
be prevalent. Every effort will be made to regain lost ground in
future years.
The state of immunity of alt children is indicated by the
"Immunity Index" which is the number of children immunised
(primary or booster) during the last five years expressed as a percentage
of the total estimated mid-year child population.
The following table shows the trend during the last three years.
| 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immunity Index for children 0 — 15 | 76.0 | 76.6 | 77.1 |
WHOOPING COUGH IMMUNISATION.
With very few exceptions, children who are protected against
diphtheria are also immunized against whooping cough. This is a
very satisfactory state of affairs, and there is no doubt that use of the
combined diphtheria-pertussis antigen has done much to encourage it.
The new policy of using only single antigens in the 2nd and 3rd
quarters of the year means that, at these times, no less than 5 injections
at monthly intervals are required to give protection to both
diseases.
Bearing in mind that vaccination against smallpox is also of
great importance, and that early inoculation against poliomyelitis has
now become possible, there seems to be some danger that parents may
object to the numerous injections and that one or more of the schemes
may suffer in consequence.