View report page

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
From the tables on pages 68 and 69 it will be seen that
there were 476 new immunisations done in the clinics; 308
done by private practitioners, 13 in schools and 7 in the day
nurseries, a total of children immunised for the first time of
804. This compares favourably with last year's figure of 682,
especially bearing in mind that the greater part of the material
available, i.e., the 1950 live births were down compared with
the material for last year—the 1949 births—by 47. Expressed
as a percentage of the 1950 live births the figure is 85.7%,
which is a great improvement.
It will be seen that 45 children received booster injections
in the clinics and 94 by medical practitioners, while 1,537
booster injections were given in the schools. The latter figure
includes 277 children attending our schools from other areas.
As will be seen by Table XIX on page 69, it is estimated
that not less than about 56% of our under-fives are immunised
and 86% of the over-fives. The strip table at the bottom of
page 69 shows the age distribution of the immunised children at
the time the return was made. It does not mean that only 41
children were immunised before reaching 1 year of age.
Emphasis on this point is perhaps justified as attention is being
focussed on the percentage of immunisation carried out before
the first birthday. As far as this is concerned our figures are
as follows :—
No. of children immunised in 1951 804
Age groups at time of immunisation:—
Under 1 year 377 (46.9%)
1-2 years 320 (39.8%)
Over 2 years 107 (13.3%)
Total 804
VACCINATIONS.
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 696
Re-vaccinations 369
Of the above, 761 were vaccinated by Private Practitioners.
518 of these vaccinations were primary vaccinations in infancy.
65