Evening star., 1927-05-29
ANT|-D|PHTHER|A
CAMPAIGN PLANNED
D. c. Health Department Will
Immunize Children During
Three Summer Months.

Launching a drive to prevent the
average of 500 cases of diphtheria
and 40 deaths from this disease an
nually in the District of Columbia.
the Health Department is prepared
to carry on a campaign during June.
July and August for immunization of
children at the health clinics
throughout the city.
The campaign was heartily in
dorsed by the May Day Child Health
Day Committee of social welfare
groups, which sponsored May day
observance here this year. and the
influence Of many organizations has
already been thrown behind the
movement.
Although immunization by the
toxin-antitoxin method has been
carried forward for some time in the
clinics Of the Health Department and
at the Child Welfare Clinic at Chill
dren's Hospital, a special campaign
is to be waged during the Summer so
as to protect as many small children
as possible before Fall and Winter.
and the reopening OF school.
Every Case Called Signal.
every case Of diphtheria and
every death from diphtheria is red
light, a danger signal" says an Off
cial statement from the Health DE.
partment, announcing details OF the
plan These danger signals are
warnings to parents that their small
children should be protected by inn
munization against this treacherous
disease.
There are about 500 Of these dan
ger signals in the District of Column
bia each year. Moreover, a large
number of all children have either
mild or severe diphtheria before they
Seach adult life."
Admonishing parents to reap the
full benefit by early immunization,
the statement goes on to say: Among
small children from six months 10
three years old the disease is very
serious and frequently fatal: this IS
the critical, diphtheria period. There
fore young children should have the
benefit Of immunization any time after
six months OF age. This will give
them prolonged protection against the
disease.
Give Three Injections.
"The immunization consists Of three
injections of toxin-antitoxin in the
arm. one week apart. The amount in
jected is about 10 drops. Thousands
of children have been so treated.
Among these no serious results have
been recorded. There may be little
redness around the point of injection,
but this is no more than that produced
by mosquito bite.
''The Health Department and family
physicians in cooperation with the
Parent.Teacher Associations of this
! District are to carry on diphtherla
immuniZation campaign during the
three Summer months, beginning
June /. Therefore. apply to your
| family doctor, or to any one of the
Child, Hygiene Centers Of the Health
Department"
| The Health Departments schedule,
| including time and place of immunt'
cation is as follows:
June-Georgetown Hospital, Wed.
nesday, IL a.m.: 1905 Pennsylvania
avenue southeast, Thursday, II am;
Freedmen's Hospital, Monday, IL am;
400 Fifteenth street, "Wednesday, sat
urday. IL am.
| July-925 Twenty-second street.
Tuesday. IL am; $50 Z street south
west, Wednesday, IL am; 900 Mary.
land avenue northeast. Thursday, IL
am: 409 Fifteenth street, Wednesday
and Saturday, ii am.
| August-330 G street, Tuesday, IL
am; 1901 Talbert street southeast,
Friday, II am; 5327 Georgia avenue,
| Wednesday, IL am; 400 Fifteenth
street. Wednesday and Saturday. II
am.