[Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Surrey County Council.

  • Surrey (England). County Council.
Date:
1970
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1970] / Medical Officer of Health, Surrey County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/108
    officers of health and general practitioners stating that increased supplies of vaccine were available, and sufficient would once again be forthcoming to allow resumption of the campaign to immunise susceptible children up to the age of 15. In spite of this, however, reference to Table 8 shows that relatively few children were immunised. For example the cumulative total for the two-year old group of children born in the year 1968 is now about five and a half thousand, out of a possible fourteen and a half thousand. There appears to be little doubt that this vaccine has never been really well received both by the public and some of the medical profession, and that the incident which led to withdrawal of one brand of vaccine during 1969 only served to damp down again any increasing acceptance that might have taken place. It is unfortunate that there is resistance to the vaccination of children against measles, as the premise on which the original decision to introduce generalised use of this antigen was taken still holds good, i.e. that the rate of serious complications from natural disease is far greater than that which might arise from the use of the vaccine. Records of any serious reactions ocurring following the use of vaccine have demonstrated clearly that this is so, and yet many people would still appear to prefer that children should succumb to an uncontrolled natural infection with a demonstrable risk of serious complications or death. In fact out of 3,053 cases of measles notified one child aged 2 years did die from complications of the disease during the year. It is difficult to comment upon any immediate effect which measles vaccination may currently be having on the incidence of the disease in Surrey, as the number of cases expected during 1970 would not have been high as it was not a bi-ennial “measles year”. It will be recalled that the number of cases which occurred in 1969 was far below the expected number, but the 3,053 notified during 1970 shows no significant change in respect of previous inter¬ epidemic years (4,095 cases in 1966, and 1,812 in 1969). Cases were reported throughout the year with a noticeable peak during July and a subsidiary peak during November. 1970 was notable for another advance in the field of immunology. As from September the Department of Health & Social Security made available rubella vaccine to be offered to schoolgirls aged between eleven and thirteen, with a recommendation that it should be given initially to girls aged 13 years. The aim is to ensure immu¬ nity to the disease during the childbearing years, when maternal rubella so frequently results in serious handicaps in the infant. Vaccine was issued free of charge to local health authorities for use by them or by general practitioners in the area. Accordingly it was decided that the parents of all schoolgirls aged 13 years should be sent an application form with an explanatory covering letter, asking them whether they wished their daughter to be immunised against rubella and if so whether in school or by their general practitioner. By the end of 1970, 4,692 forms had been issued and 3,512 requests for vaccination received, an overall acceptance rate of 75%. This may be considered very satisfactory for a new vaccine and contrasts markedly with the measles situation. The offer of vaccination through the school health service appears to have been very acceptable to parents as 3,180 (90%) requested vaccination in school. In recent years there has been some interest in developing alternative methods of injection suitable for program¬ mes of mass-immunisation avoiding the use of multiple syringes and needles. In three areas of the County one such apparatus, the Dermojet, is being used for B.C.G. vaccination of schoolchildren. Dr. J. B. Morwood, Divisional Medical Officer of S. E. Division reports: — “Two of these instruments have been used in this Division during the last two years. These ‘guns’ have been found particularly useful when carrying out large-scale sessions of B.C.G. Vaccination. Correct administration of an intra-dermal injection is essential when performing B.C.G. Vaccination as poor technique can give rise to an unnecessarily large number of severe local reactions. The Dermojet ensures a graded dose of vaccine intra-dermally and besides use in the case of secondary schoolchildren, can also be used successfully with extremely disturbed or severely handicapped children, where the ordinary intra-dermal injection with a normal syringe and needle is not always possible. Medical officers using the Dermojet are in favour of this method of B.C.G. Vaccination and would not wish to return to injection by syringe and needle.” DAY NURSERIES The situation in the five County Council Day Nurseries is summarised below: — No. of places at Average daily No. of children No. of Priority children 31.12.70. attendance during on register at on waiting list at the year. 31.12.70. 31.12.70. 210 190.86 216 61 The attendance at these nurseries fluctuates daily and the average daily attendance will always be below the maximum. Admissions are reserved for the usual priority groups of children. Ashford, Epsom and Redhill Day Nurseries are designated training nurseries for the National Nursery Examinations Board. It was mentioned in my report last year that the Department of Health and Social Security had agreed in principle to the erection of a new nursery on a site in Station Road, Redhill. In view of the poor conditions of the 20