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Diphtheria
The district continued to enjoy complete freedom from this disease.
For the fourteenth year in succession no case occurred.
Diphtheria Immunisation
As with smallpox vaccination and other immunising procedures, this
scheme is the responsibility of the County Council and the arrangements
are directed locally by the District Medical Officers of Health.
Facilities for treatment exist at all the Infant Welfare Centres and
every endeavour is made to secure the immunisation of all infants during
the first year of life. Common practice is to combine the treatment with
that for whooping cough and tetanus in the same injections.
Protection is not permanently insured by the initial course of injections
and the original immunity needs to be reinforced thereafter during school
life. This is, and has been, accomplished to a very satisfying degree by
our being able to visit the primary schools and offer the reinforcing doses
on the school premises.
In 1962 the number of babies who received this preventive treatment
fell by comparison with the year before. Admittedly we have had no diphtheria
for 14 years and this of itself could be expected to induce some
apathy on the part of parents. But it is only because in the past we have
been able to maintain a relatively high rate of immunisation that we have
have enjoyed freedom from this highly fatal disease. If the practice were
allowed to fall into disuse, it is only a question of time before diphtheria
re-appears in the district.

A further 1062 Carshalton children received reinforcing injections
during the year.
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