NOTES ON VACCINATION IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY
FOR THE YEAR 1917-1918.
Redistribution of work in Surat District involved the appointment of
2 extra vaccinators and peons. In Aden the establishment of 6 vaccinators
was reduced by two.
2. Seven lakhs five thousand five hundred and thirteen persons were
primarily vaccinated against 708,548 in the previous year. The reduction of
3,035 does not indicate a decline in the popularity of vaccination. In Guzerat
and in Sind the number of primary vaccinations fell by 6,748 and 13,399
respectively. In Guzerat the unusual incidence of plague, and in Sind the
exceptional rainfall followed by a severe epidemic of malaria interfered with
work. In Sind the deaths of 28,736 infants under one year were registered
against 18,147 in the previous year. There were consequently fewer infants
available for vaccination. In the Southern, Central and Western Registration
Districts the increases in primary vaccinations were 6,813, 6,989 and 2,074
respectively in spite of the incidence of plague in all districts, and of cholera in
the Southern Registration District.
3. Six lakhs fifty-four thousand four hundred and fifty primary
vaccinations or 92.76 per cent. were successful;2,147 or .3 per cent. were unsuc-
cessful; and the results were not ascertained in 7 per cent. of the cases. The
percentage of success excluding unknown results was 99.7 per cent.
4. One hundred and four males were primarily vaccinated for every 100
females. The ratio of male to female births is practically the same.
5. Seventy-nine per cent. of the primary vaccinations were on infants
under one year, and just under 20 per cent. on children between one and six
years of age.
6. The revaccinations numbered 114,163 against 67,495 last year. The
increase was influenced by the prevalence of small-pox. Guzerat Registration
District alone returned a decrease of 974. In the Southern Registration
District the increase in revaccinations came to 10,691. There were 94,656
male revaccinations and 19,507 female. There are obvious difficulties in the
way of revaccination of women.
Excluding unknown results the success rate for revaccinations was 56.29 per
cent. The results could not be ascertained in 60.7 per cent. of operation.
7. The remarks in paragraphs 2 to 6 refer to vaccinations collated in
Statements I and III Appendix 1 and in which operations in certain Native
States are not included. In these areas (vide Statement No. I, Appendix 2)
there were 128,973 primary vaccinations. Of these 124,360 or 96.5 per cent. were
successful; and the success rate exclusive of unknown results was 98.46 per
cent. Revaccinations numbered 10,693. The success rate excluding unknown
results was 65.74 and the percentage of unknown results 19.5 per cent.
8. The report deals therefore with 834,486 primary vaccinations and
124,856 revaccinations.
9. Except for a few of the smaller Native States in which arm-to-arm
vaccination is still practised, vaccination was carried out with vaccine supplied
from the Belgaum Vaccine Institute.
Twelve lakhs twenty-four thousand six hundred and ninety doses of vaccine
were issued against 11,13,310 in the previous year. There was an exceptionally
heavy demand from the Military and 1,35,260 doses against 51,340 in the
previous year were issued to military medical officers serving with forces
in and out of India.
The total expenditure of the Institute for the year amounted to Rs. 40,915
against Rs. 39,507 last year. Apart from the normal rise in the salaries of the
staff the actual working expenses of the Institute were less than in 1916-1917
in spite of the general rise in prices. This economy was due to the main-
tenance of a high level of potency in the seed vaccine, whereby the average
L 12—1