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
Mitcham 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Mitcham]
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44
Scarlet Fever
The number of cases of scarlet fever notified during the year
was 34 as compared with 32 in 1961, equivalent to a case rate of
0.53 per 1,000 population. This disease has continued mild in
character. Two cases were removed to hospital.
Diphtheria
No case of diphtheria was notified for the thirteenth year in
succession, whereas cases used to average sixty per year.
Immunisation and reinforcing doses were available to every child
whose parents gave consent.
Immunisation Against Diphtheria, Whooping Cough
and Tetanus
There are five clinics within relatively easy reach of everyone,
as well as immunisation sessions held in the schools.
Every effort is made to have as many babies as possible
immunised before their first birthday, the policy nowadays being to
give the triple antigen against diphtheria, whooping cough and
tetanus.
The following table shews the number of children immunised
and reinforced against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus in
1962.
Whooping cough immunisation is not carried out in schools as it is intended primarily for children under five years old.
| Number of children receiving:— | Year of Birth | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1961 | 1960 | 1959 | 1958 | 1953-7 | 1948-52 | Total | ||
| A. Primary Course againsi: | Diphtheria | 278 | 380 | 37 | 19 | 9 | 86 | 24 | 833 |
| Whooping Cough | 278 | 377 | 37 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 3 | 735 | |
| Tetanus | 278 | 380 | 38 | 20 | 10 | 33 | 15 | 774 | |
| B Reinforcing injection against: | Diphtheria | — | 25 | 46 | 14 | 9 | 609 | 317 | 1020 |
| Whooping Cough | — | 24 | 40 | 11 | 5 | 56 | 6 | 142 | |
| Tetanus | — | 25 | 42 | 8 | 2 | 73 | 7 | 157 | |