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Immunisation against Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis
The decrease in the number of children immunized gives cause for some concern.
Parents are encouraged to go to their family doctors for these immunisation procedures
and this may well have had some influence on the figures.
Measles Vaccination
Some parents appear to be unconcerned about measles vaccination. Quite clearly,
measles vaccination is having an overall effect on the number of cases. It is a pity that
more parents do not take advantage of immunisation against this unpleasant and unnecessary
infectious disease.
Rubella Vaccination
Apathy continues to exist and the take-up for rubella vaccination is still not all that
could be hoped for. In 1971, twelve and thirteen year old girls were vaccinated and in
1972 the twelve year olds only. Maternal rubella can give rise to handicapping conditions
in unborn children — tragedies that could be prevented by twelve year old girls having
simple injections.
Smallpox Vaccination
Smallpox as a routine was discontinued in 1971. However, school children going
abroad and persons travelling to smallpox endemic areas were advised to be protected.
Protection against Typhoid Fever
Typhoid innoculation was recommended for all persons travelling overseas and
children going abroad in school parties were innoculated either by their family doctors
or, failing this, at the local clinic.

The lowering of the age limit in September 1971 from 13 years to 11 years accounts
for a continued increase in numbers.
PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER CARE
Tuberculosis
During 1972 there were 31 notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis and 4 notifications
of non-pulmonary tuberculosis in the Borough, compared with 26 and 7 notifications
respectively, in 1971.
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