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42
Poliomyelitis Immunisation
A vaccine has been developed in the past few years that is
found to give protection against poliomyelitis. The Ministry of Health
approved a scheme for using a Salk type vaccine produced in this
country.
Owing to the temporarily limited supply only parents of children
born from 1st January, 1947, to 31st December, 1954, were asked
to apply for their children to be immunised.
In Mitcham applications were made in respect of 2,200 children,
approximately one-third of the eligible age group l½ to 9½.
To avoid giving injections in the late summer when poliomyelitis
tends to be prevalent, immunisation was carried out in May and
June only.
This meant that in 1956 only 201 complete vaccinations of two
injections and eleven single injections could be given.
In this small number there were no cases of poliomyelitis.
Arrangements for immunisation were in the hands of the local
health authority acting through divisions, owing to the urgency of
getting this scheme into force and the limited amount of vaccine
available.
Arrangements have now been made for private doctors to participate
in the scheme, but, as in the clinics, the children originally
registered have to be done first and, following them, children born
in 1955 and 1956 who have been registered.
Enteric Fever
One case of Paratyphoid B phage type III A occurred during the
year; the source of infection could not be discovered.
One case of Typhoid phage type D.I occurred in a foreign visitor.
There was no fatality.
Diarrhoea and Enteritis Under Two Years of Age
No death was registered during the year.