[Report 1962] / Medical Officer of Health, Alton U.D.C.

  • Alton (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1962
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1962] / Medical Officer of Health, Alton U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    shortness of duration, on occasion it is not treated and, therefore, not reported. Lack of notification does not necessarily mean no incidence. (7) Influenza. In the early part of the year a mild outbreak of influenza occurred. Influenza is not notifiable as such, but a rough approxi- mation of the percentage incidence in the area can be obtained from National Insurance statistics. Of new claims in January about one-third were due to influenza. Immunisation Schemes. (1) Diphtheria. Each year in the Annual Report the advisability of protecting infants against diphtheria is stressed. Every mother is approached by the Health Visitor soon after the child’s birth, and at the age of four months a card is sent reminding her of the desirability of immunisation. Again at the end of a year if a child has not been immunised a further approach is made. Booster doses are avail- able at school entry and at the age of ten, and a few primary immunisations are carried out at these ages. In 1962 in this area, therefore, 115 primary immunisations were carried out and 153 booster injections were given. This represents 74.7% of infants immunised. Number of Record Cards Received during 1962, irrespective of date of completion. Year of Diph. only Diph.&W / cgh W/cgh. only Diph. & Tetn. Triple Birth Primary Booster Primary Booster Primary Booster Primary Booster Primary Booster 1962 — 8 — — — 37 1961 — — 16 — — — — — 52 - 1960 1 — 2 — — — — — 6 1959 — — 2 — — — — 1958 — — — 1 — — — — 1 1 1953-57 1 2 2 5 — — 1 — 5 58 1948-52 — 62 — 5 — — — 1 2 17 Total 2 64 30 1 1 — 1 1 103 76 (2) Whooping-Cough and Tetanus. Protection against these diseases is usually given in the Triple Antigen. The incidence of whooping-cough has decreased con- siderably in the last ten years. (3) Smallpox Vaccination. Vaccination against smallpox is necessary before entering certain foreign countries. It is best carried out in childhood; in October, 1962, the Ministry of Health suggested that it was best