IMMUNITY FROM DIPHTHERIA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 2

IMMUNITY FROM DIPHTHERIA

SYSTEMATIC COVERAGE OF SCHOOLS

CLINIC FOR TREATMENT OF INFANTS

The Health Department’s campaign to have all children immunised against diphtheria has met such a good response from mothers with infants that the clinic for the inoculation of children of pte-school age, normally opened once a month, now operates on two Fridays a month. The Medical Officer of Health (Dr. J. H. BlakeiGck) said that, if the demand increased further, additional arrangements would be made.

Primary schools had been systematically covered in Canterbury in the last few years, Dr. Blakelock said, so that most children had been treated. Some country schools had not yet been visited, but they would be attended to as staff, was available. By this complete coverage it would be possible to reduce danger of infection to a virtual negative. There had not been a serious outbreak of diphtheria in the district for a considerable time. It was desirable to have babies protected before their first birthday, Dr. •Blakelock continued, or as soon after as possible. Where no immunisation treatment had been given, children were treated as soon as possible after entering school. Another inoculation was frequently given to reinforce protection.

“Most people sooner or later develop a natural immunity to diphtheria,” Dr. Blakelock said, “but this takes time. It is during this period of development that a child is most exposed to the risk of infection. That is the reason why the Health Department is seeking to protect every child in New Zealand.” Arrangements could be made through the Health Department or medical practitioners. “A clean home, good food, and fresh air won’t keep your child safe from diphtheria,” says a Health Department bulletin. “It is caused by germs which spread from one child to another, and there are always some people in the neighbourhood who are carrying the infection in their noses or throats—healthy carriers. Little children bear the brunt of this disease. More than eight out of 10 who die from diphtheria are children aged 10 and under, and it is children under four years of age who are in the greatest danger from diphtheria. “That is why we want every baby protected before its first birthday. Immunisation is a simple way of teaching the body to' organise its own natural defences against diphtheria, well ahead of an attack. All that is needed is two, or at the most three, injections of a few drops of protecting material into the skin of the arm. Fathers sometimes stop their children having injections because they themselves had swollen, sore arms when given protective inoculations against typhoid or something else when in the armed forces. But diphtheria protection is not like that. Babies and little children may be worried by the skin prick, but that is all. It is extremely rare for a young child to have re* actions to the Injections.”