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Diphtheria Immunisation. Under the National Health
Service immunisation has become a family service provided
by the family doctor, and attendance at public clinics has
tended to decline. The medical practitioners now notify the
Medical Officer of Health of each child immunised by them,
and henceforth statistics of the numbers immunised should be
more accurate. The success of immunisation is due to the
fine spirit of co-operation of parents. Success must not
breed complacency. Diphtheria is still dangerous. Carriers
still exist in our midst. The diphtheria bacillus awaits an
opportunity to break through any weakness in our defences.
Every baby should be immunised at or before the first birthday.
Every child should be reinforced before entering nursery
school or day school and again at the age of eight to nine
years. A close check is being kept on the state of immunisation
of new entrants to schools and reinforcing injections
are given at schools.
During the year 1949, nine hundred and ninety children
were immunised against Diphtheria. The number immunised
at the age of one year was 665, which represents 55 per cent.
of the babies reaching that age during the year, compared
with 49 per cent, for this age group in 1948. One thousand
nine hundred and seventy-six children received reinforcing
injections.

At the end of the year, 10,250 children, representing
62.2 per cent. pf all the children, had been immunised. Of
these, 3,030 represents 48.7 per cent. of the children under five
years of age, and 7,220 represents 70.5 per cent. of the
children between five and fifteen years of age.
The Clinics for Diphtheria Immunisation are as follows:—
1. At the Public Hall, No. 1, Hill Road, Sutton. Every
Friday, at 2 p.m.
2. At the Clinic, Methodist Church Hall, Station Road,
Belmont. The first Thursday in each month, at 1.30 p.m.
3. At the Clinic, Priory Crescent, North Cheam. Every
Monday, at 1.30 p.m.
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