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
West Ham 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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B.C.G. Vaccination. There were no changes in the scheme introduced in 1956 whereby
vaccination against tuberculosis is offered to school leavers, that is children of 13
years and over.
Before vaccination is given a simple skin test is performed, as some children
will already have been exposed to the disease and have subsequently developed an immunity.
In these instances the skin test is positive and arrangements are made for these children
to have a chest x-ray to ensure that the previous exposure to tuberculosis has not resulted
in active disease.
The following table shows the results of visits to schools:-
B.C.G. Vaccination
| Year | No. of Schools Visited | Number of Children | Vaccinated | % of negative reactors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Tested and Read | Result of Test | |||||||
| Negative | % | Positive | % | |||||
| 1957 | 13 | 952 | 738 | 77.5 | 214 | 22.5 | 714 | 97.0 |
| 1958 | 23 | 1,609 | 1,336 | 83.03 | 273 | 16.97 | 1,336 | 100.0 |