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(6)
Tetanus
Inoculation against tetanus has been available since 1956 and is
now widely accepted. Although not a common disease, the mortality rate
is high and immunisation is recommended. 580 children were immunised
during the year and 660 received a reinforcing dose. No cases were
notified.
Smallpox
During the early part of the year the department was much occupied
with the surveillance and vaccination of contacts of smallpox both from
abroad and from infected areas of Great Britain. That no cases occurred
in the district is a tribute to the vigilance of our colleagues in less
fortunate areas where outbreaks were reported. The very considerable
increase in numbers of vaccinations and revaccinations carried out during
the year reflects the anxiety felt by the general public. No general
measures to encourage vaccination of persons other than contacts were
taken. but special clinic sessions were arranged to answer the increased
demand.
Plans were made in collaboration with public health departments
of neighbouring authorities for immediate implementation should cases
have occurred locally. One striking feature which was brought to notice
was the very large number of persons who travel about the country in the
course of their daily work.
Details of the number of vaccinations carried out during the
year are as follows:
Number of primary vaccinations 929 (451)
Number of revaccinaticms 572 (89)
(Previous year's figures in parentheses).
Of the above, 746 persons were vaccinated or revaccinated by
private practitioners and 314 of those vaccinated were under 1 year
of age, 56.7% of the number of births.
Scarlet Fever
The number of cases of scarlet fever notified during the year
was 11, giving an incidence rate of 0.24 per thousand population.
All the cases were very mild.