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
Carshalton 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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Meningococcal Infection
No case of meningococcal infection was notified.
Poliomyelitis
The district was again free from this infection for the fourth year in
succession.
Poliomyelitis Vaccination
Since the Sabin type of oral vaccine was made available to Local
Health Authorities in 1962, vaccination against poliomyelitis by the use of
the injected Salk vaccine has almost completely fallen into disuse and the
oral vaccine is now used almost exclusively. The oral vaccine has the advantage
over the Salk type in that not only does it cause anti bodies against
the virus of polio, to be formed in the blood, which is the sole effect of Salk
injections, but it also establishes itself in the intestine and sets up a tissue
resistance to subsequent invasion by virulent polio, virus.
The scheme, which is the responsibility of the County Council, provides
facilities from the age of 6 months to 40 years and in addition for groups at
special risk such as doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel etc.
The number of individuals treated during 1963 was as follows:—
| No. who received their 2nd injection | No. given a 3rd injection | No. given a 4th injection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children over 6 months and born in 1943 to 1963 | 21 | ||
| Young persons born 1933 to 1942 | — | 78 | 19 |
| Persons born before 1933 | 1 | ||
| Others | — | ||
| Totals | 3 | 78 | 19 |
| No. who received their 3rd dose | No. given 3rd reinforcing dose after 2 Salk | No. given 4th reinforcing dose after 3 Salk | No. given 4th reinforcing dose after 3 Oral | No. given reinforcing dose after 2 Salk and 1 Oral | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in 1943-1963 | 629 | 43 | 752 | 8 | 9 |
| Born in 1933-1942 | 27 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Born 1932 and earlier | 37 | 8 | — | — | — |
| Totals | 693 | 55 | 752 | 8 | 9 |
These figures do not include the staffs of hospitals.
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