London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Malden and Coombe 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]

This page requires JavaScript

9
diphtheria. In many cases this personally addressed circular
succeeded where other methods of encouragement had failed and
it is hoped there will be, in consequence, a rise in the percentage
of immunised children next year.
In his report for 1947 Dr. Fanning quoted an extract from
a circular of the Ministry of Health, showing the rapid decline
in the number of notifications and deaths from diphtheria in
England and Wales since the immunisation campaign got under
way in 1941. The facts shown are so remarkable that I cannot
do otherwise than include the following latest information
which is extracted from a recent circular of the Ministry.
"The provisional total of deaths from diphtheria in England
and Wales in 1948 was 150, compared with an average of about
2,800 deaths annually in the ten year period 1931/40. For
the seventh consecutive year, therefore, since the immunisation
campaign was launched, the number of deaths was the lowest
ever recorded.

Totals of deaths and original notifications during the past nine years have been as follows:—

YearDiphtheria deathsCase s
19402,48046,281
19412,64150,797
19421,82741,404
19431,37134,662
194493429,949
194572225,246
194647218,283
1947244*10,465*
1948150*8,034*
* Provisional.

The number of cases in 1948 was also the lowest ever recorded,
being 47,000 below the average of 55,000 in the ten
year period 1931/40. Apart from the avoidance of unnecessary
suffering, this has resulted in substantial savings in hospital costs
and has freed medical and nursing personnel for other work."
VACCINATIONS.
The National Health Service Act, 1946 repealed the Vaccination
Acts, 1867 to 1907 and in consequence vaccinations
against smallpox are not now compulsory.
As with diphtheria immunisation all medical practitioners
providing general medical services in the area are given an
opportunity to provide service for carrying out vaccinations.