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
Brentford and Chiswick 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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Smallpox
During the year six contacts of suspected smallpox cases were
notified to this Department from various sources„ The contacts were
followed up but no sickness developed,,
Vaccination against Smallpox
The following information regarding vaccinations against smallpox carried out in the Borough during 1953 has been supplied by the County Medical Officer.
| Age Groups | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 yr | 1 yr | 2-4 yrs | 5-14 yrs | 15 and over | Total | |
| Primary Vaccinationo | 469 | 33 | 11 | 20 | 15 | 548 |
| Re-vaccination | - | - | 3 | 16 | 136 | 155 |
| Total number of first vaccinations:- | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | |||
| 298 | 373 | 548 | ||||
It will be noted that 469 children under 1 year of age were
vaccinated out of 852 born during the year i0e0 55%. This is a
considerable improvement over the percentage for 1952 which was 350
It is satisfactory to be able to record a more substantial
attendance for infant vaccination as in recent years the fact that
smallpox is of rare occurrence in this country has tended to lull
the citizens into a feeling of false security - false, inasmuch as
that while smallpox is still a major cause of illness and death in
Parts of the British Commonwealth, it must be a danger,, The incoming
traveller from a smallpox area can arrive by air transport in such a
short time that he may be unknowingly infected and within the incubation
Period of the disease, all between leaving the one country and arriving
ln the uther0 Airport Medical Staff are kept informed of all smallpox
occurring in the World and persons coming from smallpox areas are most
carefully supervised, but there is still the risk that the odd first
case from an area supposed to be free from smallpox may get into this
country and travel about spreading infection before developing symptoms,
The real protection is vaccination; and infant vaccination while not
Providing lifelong immunity gives immunity for some years and in
addition minimises the risk of post vaccinal comnlications in later life.
The improvement in the vaccination figures is possibly due to some
extent to the County Council's new arrangements for vaccination at infant
welfare clinics, and to some extent to the increase in propaganda, both
local and national, during 1953.
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