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Because of changes in the statistics required by the Ministry of Health and
consequent upon the reorganisation of Borough boundaries, information concerning
numbers of immunisations carried out for the whole year are not available. There is,
however, a slight decline, estimated to be of the order of 5% Per annum in the numbers
of children immunised and. vaccinated. This is regrettable and is unfortunately a
nation-wide trend. Protection against smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and
poliomyelitis is available at all the Council's clinics and at the surgeries of all
general practitioners.
All mothers of young children are notified by health visitors of the need for
immunisation and are constantly reminded by widely displayed posters and leaflets.
In the final reckoning, however, some personal effort is involved and I cannot too
strongly emphasise the importance of every child being protected against these diseases
to ensure that they do not return to take their toll of life. We have recently seen
the occurrence of smallpox and poliomyelitis in other parts of the country with
considerable loss of life and we have no reason for complacency. This could happen
in Sutton unless all parents make it their responsibility to see that their children
are protected.
Persons travelling abroad are strongly advised to take note of the advice
given in the "Notice to Travellers" issued by the Ministry of Health, to ascertain
what additional protection is advised and to obtain the appropriate inocculations.
Vaccination against tuberculosis is offered to all contacts of infectious
cases and carried out by the chest physician. In addition all school children who
have not acquired natural immunity are offered this protection at approximately
thirteen years of age. Pupils who may have acquired natural immunity are referred
to the chest physician for chest x-ray to ensure that no treatment is necessary
following their exposure to the infection.