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7
Thereafter the position improved rapidly, and by the end of August
only 461 registered applicants were waiting.
In September the Minister of Health announced that third or
boosting doses were to be given to all those vaccinated since the
beginning of the scheme, and that the scheme would now include all
young persons up to the age of 25 years.
This meant that third injections were required by more than 9,000
children in addition to three injections for each of the new registrations.
By the end of December over 4,000 third injections had been given
and first or second injections had been given to a further 1,500.
At this time it was apparent that young people aged 15-25 years
were very slow at coming forward and that some 30% of school
children had not yet been registered.
It was obvious that, if supplies of vaccine remained adequate, a
drive would have to be made early in the following year to include
as many as possible of these two groups.
care of the aged and the chronic sick.
There is little change to report in the local scheme for the care of
the aged and chronic sick which was set out in previous Annual
Reports. Co-operation between the various authorities and officers
concerned continues to improve. The Home Help Service plays a very
large part in assisting these elderly people, thereby enabling them to
remain at home in reasonable comfort.
Other than in times of epidemic the waiting period for admission
to a hospital or a home is not unduly long, and a desperate case is
invariably admitted without delay.
In many cases the old people create their own problems by refusing
to leave their homes.
A great deal is done to assist the aged by the local voluntary
services. The "Meals on Wheels" Scheme organized by the W.V.S.
provides a good meal twice weekly for those who want it, and the
numerous Clubs provided by the Old Peoples Welfare Committee
bring new interests into the lives of many elderly people who are not
confined to their homes.
I think that the chief need at present is the establishment of some
form of "Day Hospital" or "Day Club" to which people who are
house-bound through infirmity or physical defect can be transported
and where they would be cared for, entertained, and given remedial
treatment during the course of the day.