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
Merton and Morden 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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TETANUS IMMUNISATION
Active immunisation against tetanus is available at any of the
County Council Clinics or from the general practitioners in the district.
During the year under review 778 children completed a primary course
of treatment against tetanus and a further 399 children received
re-inforcing injections.
POLIOMYELITIS VACCINATION
Vaccination against Poliomyelitis is available at all infant welfare
clinics throughout the district and, in addition, special clinics are held
once a month, on a Saturday morning, at the Grand Drive and Morden
Road Clinics.
With the introduction of oral vaccination in 1962 the demand for
Salk Vaccine fell to negligible proportions, being almost exclusively
used by the local general practitioners when a single vaccination is
called for.
The following table indicates the state of vaccination as it was on the 31st December, 1963
| Age Group (Years of birth) | Primary Course | Number given third | Number given fourth | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salk | Oral | Salk | Oral | Salk | Oral | |
| 1943-1963 | 17 | 529 ) | 23 | 12 | 14 | 635 |
| 1933-1942 | 2 | 20 | ||||
| Other Groups | 3 | 54 ) | ||||
| Totals | 22 | 603 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 635 |
The total number of persons who have received a primary course
of vaccination since the inception of the scheme is 25,136, which includes
16.496 in the 1943-1963 age group, 4,683 in the 1933-1942 age group
and 3,957 classified under other groups.
SMALLPOX VACCINATION
Vaccination against smallpox is provided by the County Council in
accordance with their Scheme under Section 26 of the National Health
Service Act. Hitherto it has been the practice to secure vaccination of
infants at approximately three to four months of age but, having regard
to the timing of other immunisation and vaccination procedures, the
Mininstry of Health were advised by the Medical Advisory Committee
that there was evidence to indicate a slight advantage to be gained, on
the score of liability to local reaction, if the treatment were given in the
second year of life instead of the first. This new timing of vaccination
against smallpox was adopted throughout Surrey during the year,
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