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DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
The tables on the succeeding pages show the scope and
extent of the immunisations carried out last year. In comparing
the figures for the under 5s with those for the previous year it
is necessary to bear in mind that the material available, that is
roughly the previous year's births, were only 1087 as against
1345 for the previous year. The total immunisations under 5
therefore for the year, expressed as a percentage of the live births
for the previous year was 68.8% as compared with 68.3% last
year.
It is of interest that the number of immunisations in the
0-5 group carried out by the General Practitioners rises from
176 last year to 310 this year, that is from 19.6% of the total
to 41.4%.
Reference to table XVIII on page 61 gives an illuminating
picture of the change that has taken place in the incidence and
fatality of Diphtheria. The average number of cases for the
10 year period 1920-1929 is 41.3, for the next 10 year period
1930-1939 it is 45.3, and for the 10 year period just passed it
has fallen to an average of 11.4 per year. We should be very
careful, therefore, before we allow ourselves to be scared by the
fear of the unknown into discouraging a tried and proved
weapon such as Diphtheria immunisation.
The National Health Service Act, 1946, did away with
compulsory vaccination in infancy and our success now depends
on the public enthusiasm for the measure as a precaution against
Smallpox.
During the year the following number of vaccinations were
carried out:
Vaccinations 469
Re-vaccinations 79
Of the above 305 were vaccinated by Private Practitioners.
189 of these vaccinations were primary vaccinations in infancy.
VACCINATIONS.
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