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 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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The table below gives details of initial protection given by the use of prophylactics against diphtheria, smallpox, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and tetanus:—
| Disease against which protection given | Number of primary courses given | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year of Birth | Others under 16 years | Total | |||||
| 1966 | 1965 | 1964 | 1963 | 1959/62 | |||
| Diphtheria | 1,058 | 1,224 | 67 | 30 | 55 | 33 | 2,467 |
| Whooping Cough | 1,058 | 1,225 | 67 | 30 | 35 | 12 | 2,427 |
| Poliomyelitis (By injection) | 2 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 24 |
| Poliomyelitis (Oral) | 346 | 1,637 | 178 | 81 | 121 | 36 | 2,399 |
| Tetanus | 1,058 | 1,224 | 67 | 30 | 163 | 110 | 2,652 |
The continuing need for immunisation and vaccination is brought
home to the public at large by the use of leaflets, posters and displays,
and by the teaching of the Health Visitors at the clinics and in the
course of their district visits.
Reinforcement Measures
In addition to the above measures of primary protection the
following numbers were given re-inforcement doses:—
Diphtheria 4721
Whooping Cough 1934
Poliomyelitis 1170
Tetanus 3781
At the end of the year, 82,616 persons had completed a full course of immunisation since the scheme began in 1956. The age distribution of these completed cases is given below:—
| Persons born 1943-66 | 54,529 |
| Persons born 1933-42 | 15,791 |
| Others | 12,296 |
| Total | 82,616 |
Fourth Injection
At the end of the year 20,232 children, aged not less than five
years and not more than 13 years, had received a fourth dose either by
injection of by the oral method.
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