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20
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1930.
The addresses and times of the Clinics are as follows:—
Springfield Infant Welfare Centre,
The Congregational Hall,
Earlsfield Road (Garratt Lane end).
Every Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 3.30 p.m.
Balham Infant Welfare Centre,
91, Bedford Hill,
Balham.
Every Friday afternoon from 2 to 3.30 p.m.
The Clinics are intended for the immunisation of susceptible
children, and of any adults who may be brought into close and
frequent contact with children.
Method of Procedure:— The following is the routine
procedure:— A Schick test is performed on all adults and on
children over 5 years of age at their first visit, and the result
is read on the second attendance a week later. If the result is
positive, showing susceptibility to Diphtheria, the first immunising
injection of 1 c.c. of Toxoid Anti-toxin mixture is given on the
same day. Second and third injections of the same strength
are given at intervals of a week.
As experience has shown that the large majority of children
under 5 years of age give a positive Schick test, the procedure
is modified in their case by omitting the preliminary test, the
first immunising injection being administered at the first attendance.
This has the advantage of reducing the number of attendances
from four to three.
A leaflet describing the procedure has been drawn up and
this is distributed by the Council's Officers when visiting homes
and at the Welfare Centres. The London County Council have
given permission for these leaflets to be distributed at their
schools, and many thousands have been given out in this
manner.
Attendances:— The number of persons who have attended
at the Clinics was 1,169 in 1928, 647 in 1929, and 849 in 1930,
making a total of 2,665 in three years. These numbers are not
large when compared with the child population of the Borough