TRIENNIAL REPORT ON VACCINATION IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY
FOR THE YEARS 1914-15, 1915-16, 1916-17.
The control of vaccinators with the exception of those working in 5 select-
ed districts, remained in the hands of the Sanitary Department. It is desir-
able that local bodies should be responsible for vaccination within their
respective areas ; but until each body can employ an expert to act as Super-
intendent of Vaccination the realization of this ideal is impossible.
2. During the triennium three Deputy Sanitary Commissioners were
re-called to military duty, and their places have been filled temporarily. One
Deputy Sanitary Commissioner went on furlough for one year and returned to
duty in 1916.
The vaccination establishment was increased during the triennium by the
appointment of 14 additional vaccinators : 5 vaccinators in Western, 5 in
Southern and 4 in Sind Registration Districts.
3. For details of primary vaccination see appendix 1, statements I and III.
During the year 1916-17, 708,548 persons were primarily vaccinated
against 719,417 in the previous year and 723,646 in 1914-15. The average
number of successful cases for the triennium was 654,078 against 637,297, an
increase of 16,781. The percentage of successful cases in which the results
were known was 98.88 in 1916-17 against 98.91 in 1915-16 and 97.94 in
1914-15. The steady progress in primary vaccination is shown in the following
table :—
Period.
1908-11 ...
1911-14 ...
1914-17 ...
Average annual
number.
666,497
704,427
717,203
Average annual
success rate.
97.25
98.57
98.58
The rise in the average number of primary vaccinations is due to the work
of vaccinators in local fund areas and Native States who showed increase of
17,129 and 4,764 respectively. There was a fall over 9 per cent. (from 93,568
to 84,530) in the primary vaccinations in municipal areas and of 9 per cent.
(from 1,626 to 1,478) in cantonments. The fall in these areas is probably
associated with the incidence of plague but also possibly with the increased
circulation of anti-vaccination literature.
4. The percentage of unknown cases was 7.94 during the year 1916-17
against 7.90 in the previous year. The average annual percentage for the
triennium was 7.53 against 8.28 in the previous triennium.
5. The number of persons re-vaccinated in 1916-17 was 67,495 against
70,961 in the preceding year and 63,770 in 1914-15. The average annual
number of persons re-vaccinated during the triennium being 67,409 against
71,003 in the preceding triennium, showing a decrease of 3,594.
The
number of successful re-vaccinations was 19,246 during 1916-17 as compared
with 18,414 in the previous year and 20,143 in 1914-15. For the triennial
period the average annual number of successful re-vaccinations was 19,268
against 22,014 during the preceding triennial period. Re-vaccination is chiefly
confined to large towns and places severely affected and varies directly as the
severity of the epidemics. The number of re-vaccination is very small in
comparison with the figure for primary vaccination. People realize the value
of primary vaccination and as a rule welcome the vaccinator. In the case of
re-vaccination it is different; few understand the necessity for it, with the result
that it is only practised in the presence of an epidemic of smallpox. A
reduction in the number of re-vaccinations generally means a year of slight
smallpox incidence.
6. Fresh calf lymph was used to a limited extent in Bombay City and
Phaltan State, and human lymph in some of the Kathiawar Native States.
Glycerinated vaccine was used elsewhere and except for use in Bombay City
L 7—1