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Whooping Cough is now the most serious infectious disease
of early infancy-, There is always a danger of mortality in very
young or weakly babies. The residual effects of infection are
liable to cause impairment of the lungs and the physical
development of the child may be retarded.
A vaccine which will prevent or modify the illness is now
available. The immunisation of babies should be commenced at
the fourth month of age and can be combined with Diphtheria
immunisation. Parents should ensure that all infant children
in the family are immunised against Whooping Cough at once and
that any child about to enter school is immunised before entry.
If immunity of the children in the infant schools can be achieved
the spread of Whooping Cough will be reduced and babies will be
more secure from infection in the homes.
A modified attack of Whooping Cough in an immunised child
is often difficult to diagnose. The child can transmit infection
while the cough persists. If contact with Whooping Cough is known
or suspected it is a wise precaution to isolate the child for a
few days until the cough disappears.
Immunisation against Whooping Cough. immunisation against
Whooping Cough is available free of charge for children under
five years of age, through the family doctor or at Child Welfare
Clinics. in 1954 seven hundred and five children received
immunising injections. The material used was H. Pertussis
suspended vaccine (20,000 million bacilli per c.c.). Three
injections of 1 c.c. are given at monthly intervals. The
injections are given subcutaneously.
Small Pox. No case was notified
Vaccination against Small Pox. The voluntary response to
infant vaccination should be greatly increased. Vaccination in
infancy between the third and sixth month of age, is safe and
provides a sound basic immunity which can be reinforced by
revacclnatlon at a later age without undue reaction. It would
be advantageous to introduce a scheme for the revacclnatlon of
school children when a higher percentage of primary vaccinations
in infancy is attained. The defences against Small Pox must be
strengthened and the opportunity is offered to mothers to raise
the number of infant vaccinations to a high level. The service
is free of charge and is available through medical practitioners
and Child Welfare Clinics.
in 1954 five hundred and fifteen babies under the age of
one year were vaccinated. The percentage of 54, 3 compares with
53.3 in 1953 and 53,2 in 1952.
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