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
Malden and Coombe 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]
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the parents of these babies are circularised in regard to the
importance of immunisation against diphtheria. In many cases
this personally addressed circular succeeds where other methods
of encouragement have failed.
In previous reports, details have been given showing the
rapid decline in the number of notifications and deaths from
diphtheria since the immunisation campaign got under way in
1941.
The following table shows the total number of corrected notifications and deaths for England and Wales during the six years 1944-1949:—
| Year | Deaths | Cases corrected |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 934 | 23,152 |
| 1945 | 722 | 18,571 |
| 1946 | 472 | 11,867 |
| 1947 | 244 | 5,592 |
| 1948 | 156 | 3,560 |
| 1949 | 85* | 1,897* |
| *Provisional. | ||
When it is realised that for the 10 year period 1931/40 the
average annual number of cases notified and deaths were
55,000 and 2,800 respectively the vaue of immunisation against
this disease will be readily appreciated.
VACCINATIONS.
Vaccination against smallpox is not now compulsory, the
Vaccination Acts 1867 to 1907 having been repealed by the
National Health Service Act, 1946.
As with diphtheria immunisation all medical practitioners
providing general medical services in the area are given an
opportunity to provide services for carrying out vaccinations.
During the year the following were performed :—
Vaccinations 389
Revaccinations 110
Total 499
Of the above, two hundred and forty-one were vaccinated
or revaccinated by private practitioners.
Two hundred and eighty-three of the persons vaccinated
were under one year of age.