[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Kingston-upon-Hull County Borough.

  • Hull (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Kingston-upon-Hull County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/236 (page 12)
    From the beginning of the year, two health visitors specialised in the visiting of cases of infectious disease. Previously, most of this work had been done by the district public health inspectors. At the close of the year the department was still without a Deputy Superin¬ tendent Nursing Officer, but an appointment has been made, which will take effect from April, 1961. Encouraging progress in the whole field of Vaccination and Immunisation has been achieved, and it is a pleasure to know that the number of children protected against diphtheria is the highest for many years. This I feel is due largely to the introduction in April of a triple antigen, which gives protection against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. Following an appeal from the Ministry of Health, the City took part in the Live Poliomyelitis Vaccine Survey, organised by the Medical Research Council, and such was the response that almost twice the number requested volunteered to take part in the survey. I cannot adequately express my appreciation of the wonderful co-operation by the parents of the children who took part in this very, very important investigation. They have all been magnificent. Though the official results are still awaited, the initial figures available are most encouraging. It has long been felt desirable that tetanus prophylaxis should be offered to school children. With the co-operation of the Education Department it was decided to offer immunisation against tetanus to all school children in the senior schools, and some 14,000 parents availed themselves of the opportunity to have their children protected. It is hoped that by the extension of this Service, and in co-operation with the Casualty Departments of the Victoria Hospital for Sick Children and the Hull Royal Infimary, a greater degree of protection will be achieved. The course comprises three injections at intervals of four weeks and six months respectively. Such was the demand for prophylactic immunisation in West Hull, that it was necessary to hold a weekly clinic at Coltman Street, and this is now held at 2-0 p.m. each Monday. The majority of the courses of polio¬ myelitis vaccine begun in 1959 were completed, and the number of defaulters who did not respond to a second invitation to attend has been very small. In the early part of 1960 the Ministry announced the extension of the poliomyelitis vaccination scheme to include all those under the age of 40 at the time of registration. Ses¬ sions were held in the East and West branch clinics and the Presbyterian Church Hall, Baker Street, to accommodate this new section of the community. The uptake was not as good as had been hoped, but nevertheless, by the end of May 4,143 persons in this new category had commenced a course of vaccination. In June another intensive campaign was held, and more central premises were hired in Waltham Street.