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43
Wales, and for the six-year period till the end of 1961 the
average was 73 per cent, in Mitcham.
This is probably greater than that for any borough of its size
and certainly greater than for county boroughs who have to
submit their figures to the Ministry of Health.
2. Clinic doctors, including the Divisional Medical Officer, carried
out 77 per cent, of vaccinations against 23 per cent, by general
practitioners. Of the clinic doctors the Divisional Medical
Officer carried out the bulk of vaccinations, almost one third
of all vaccinations in the borough.
3. Vaccinations carried out by the Divisional Medical Officer
personally were also the most successful in the 1,341 babies
vaccinated during 300 sessions over the six-year period.
4. From this series it appears that the multiple pressure method
of vaccination should be 100 per cent, successful.
5. It has always been assumed that some babies are not susceptible
to vaccination, but in this series it seems that 100 per cent,
were successfully vaccinated. (One case only was doubtful as
it could not be followed up through leaving the district.)
6. In this series of 1,341, all vaccinations were successful at the
very first attempt, except for two cases, one of which was
successfully vaccinated the following week and the other which
left the district. This gives a success rate of 99.85 per cent.,
which must be the highest ever recorded for a series sustained
over such a period of time over 300 clinic days.
7. It also shows the quality of the vaccine, which was always sent
by post and was sometimes not used till six days after receipt.
8. The best antiseptic for cleansing the vaccination area was
ether, because it dried instantaneously and obviously did not
kill the vaccine.
9. It also showed that a loose sterile dressing could be applied
right away without affecting the success of vaccination and
without needing to wait for vaccine lymph to dry on the arm.
10. The high success rate also helped to encourage mothers to
attend for immunisation procedures.
In Mitcham between 90-95 per cent, of all babies born attend
clinics.