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51
REPORT ON DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION CLINIC.
The number of children attending the Clinic during the
year showed a slight decrease, while there was an increase in
the total number of attendances. During the year the results
of the "two-shot" method of immunisation, using A.P.T.,
referred to in last year's report, became apparent and proved
to be very satisfactory, a figure of only a fraction below 100 per
cent, of successful results being obtained.
While the attendances at the Clinic may be considered to
be reasonably satisfactory, they might with great advantage be
improved. In the event of a national emergency it is easy to
visualise that there might be considerable outbreaks of infectious
disease among children owing to the bringing together
of children in large numbers and the mixing together of children
from different centres of population with different experiences
of infectious disease. It is obvious that the greater the number
of children previously immunised, the less will be the chance of
epidemic. As the immunity to Diphtheria takes some time
(at least two months) to develop, it is necessary to get children
protected before any emergency arises. It cannot be done later.
These facts require to be put clearly before the public, so
that the necessity for immediate treatment may be realised.
Total number of children attending 520
Total number of attendances 2,192
Total number of clinics held 43
Average attendance per clinic 51
Total number of Certificates issued 205
Number of Primary Schick Tests:
Number Positive (83 per cent.) 190
Number Negative (17 per cent.) 39
229
Number of Secondary Schick Tests:
Number positive (0.65 per cent.) 1
Number negative (99.35 per cent.) 151
- 152
Number of Re-Secondary Schick Tests:
Number positive —
Number negative 15
- 15