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Whole District
91
10
2
1
104
121
Diphtheria
The district continued to experience the freedom from this disease
which it has enjoyed for the last eight years. The recent outbreak in Essex
accompanied by a fatality is a reminder that this infection can assert itself
given the appropriate conditions and that the maintenance of a satisfactory
high level of immunisation is our sheet anchor of safety.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
The immunisation scheme against diphtheria is the responsibility of the
County Council, but as with smallpox vaccination it is, with the agreement
of the District Council directed locally by the District Medical Officer of
Health.
Every effort is made to secure primary immunisation before the age
of twelve months using prophylactic materials which now exclude alum.
Treatment is available at all the Infant Welfare Clinics and mothers are
thereby not required to make a special clinic attendance for the purpose.
These facilities together with those provided by the General Practitioners
have, over a period of many years, succeeded in securing the protection of
nearly 60% of all children under five years of age. The success of the scheme
depends however on the maintenance of the level of the artificially bestowed
immunity in each individual by periodic boosting doses and the need for
this occurs mainly during school life. With the co-operation of the Head
Teachers, this reinforcing treatment is offered each year in the primary
schools of the district and the original immunisation rate of approximately
57% in pre-school life is raised to 66% for school children and to 64% for
all children 0 to 15 years. Too much importance in this respect cannot be
attached to the value of being able to offer treatment actually in the schools.
But for this there is no doubt whatever that the percentage of children who
have received treatment within the previous five years would be far less
than it is.
In 1958, 514 resident children received a primary course of treatment
as follows:—
46