[Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Denbighshire County Council.

  • Denbighshire (Wales). County Council. no2004062613.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Denbighshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    42/82 (page 42)
    It was evident that the pi'ogramme would have to be care- fully planned and controlled. Although initially the quantity of vaccine was unknown, .it was apparent that the compilation of a register and the keeping of records would be a major task, and that a substantial load would be placed on the Medical Officers and Health Visitors. Having assessed the situation, it was estim- ated that the medical and health visiting staff could absorb the additional duties, but it was evident that the administrative staff could not possibly undertake the extra work involved. This was reported to the Health Committee, and eventually two additional clerks were engaged. The primary task was the compilation of the Register. The ])arents of every child under 5 years of age were sent a letter asking them to return a signed Consent Form, stating that they wished to have their child vaccinated against poliomyelitis. Consent Forms were distributed at School to all children in the 5-9 years Age Group. The teaching staff were most helpful, and I acknowledge my indebtedness. Many Headteachers took particular care and trouble to ensure that every child received a card, and many keenly participated in the propaganda. 6.072 children out of about 20,000 children volunteered. The allocation of vaccine was in proportion to the number of volunteers, so this County obtained a fair share of what was available. The first supply was delivered on 4th May, 1956, and had to be given to children born in the months of November, 1947 to 1954, and March, 1951 to 1954. These were wddely scattered throughout the County and it seemed that the selection had deliberately studied the County map to find children living in the most inaccessible parts. As many as possible were invited to attend at Clinics, some at Schools and a few had to be vaccinated in their own homes. Itineraries had to be carefully planned because the vaccine deteriorated if not kept at 0-4° C. Medical Officers carried the vaccine packed in ice, but once a phial had been opened, it had to be used within 24 hours. To complicate the situation, it was decided that no child should be vaccinated unless in good health and had not been in contact with infectious disease, but unfortun- ately Chickenpox and Measles were prevalent in several areas, so that many children had to be turned down. Consequently an itinerary planned for 20 or so children had to be extended until the vaccine had been used. Despite these difficulties, very little of the vaccine was wasted, and by the end of June. 610 children had been given the requisite 2 doses and 26 children had received one dose. General Medical Practitioners were informed as soon as one of their patients had been vaccinated and were requested to