TRIENNIAL REPORT ON VACCINATION IN THE BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEARS 1917-18, 1918-19, 1919-20.
Vaccinators employed in the Selected Districts remained under the control
of Local Bodies throughout the triennial period.
2. During the triennium the services of Lieut.-Colonel F. H. G. Hutchinson,
I. M. S., were transferred to the Imperial Department as Sanitary Commissioner
with the Government of India and Lieut.-Colonel W. O.'S Murphy, I. M. S., took
charge of the office of the Sanitary Commissioner for the Government of Bombay
on 1st March 1919. Three Deputy Sanitary Commissioners and the Director of the
Vaccine Institute, Belgaum, were on leave. The Deputy Sanitary Commissioner,
Gujarat Registration District, was on deputation in Poona for two months to
prepare a Manual of Vital Satistics. The vacancies so caused were filled tem-
porarily.
The Vaccination establishment was increased by two vaccinators in Gujarat
Registration District, two in Aden and one candidate vaccinator in the Western
Registration District during the triennial period under report. A temporary
establishment consisting of one male and one female vaccinator, one clerk and
one cooly was entertained for the vaccination of pilgrims in Karachi.
A full-time Superintendent of Vaccination has been appointed for Hyderabad
town.
3. For details of primary vaccination see appendix I, statements I
and III.
4. During the year 1919-20, 611,050 persons were primarily vaccinated against
600,540 in the previous year and 705,513 in 1917-18. The average number of
successful cases for the triennium was 586,049 against 654,078, a decrease of
68,029. The percentage of successful cases in which the results were known was
99.47 against 99.63 in 1918-19 and 99.67 in 1917-18. The average annual
number of vaccinations and the average annual success rate for the last three
triennial periods is shown below :—
Period.
1911-1914 .. .. .. .. ..
1914-1917 .. .. .. .. ..
1917-1920 .. .. .. .. ..
Average annual
number.
704,427
717,203
639,034
Average annual
success rate.
98.57
98.58
99.59
The decrease in the number of primary vaccinations was spread over
all areas except cantonments. There was a fall of over 11 per cent. (from 534,475
to 472,538) in work performed by local fund vaccinators, of 12 per cent. (from
84,530 to 73,685) in that done by municipal vaccinators and of 6 per cent.
(from 96,053 to 90,180) in Native States. In Cantonments there was an increase
of 203 primary vaccinations. The decrease in the above areas was due to the
severe epidemic of Influenza, and the resulting heavy mortality among young
adults. Failure of rains leading to evacuation of villages in some parts also
had its disturbing effects on the vaccination work done.
5. The percentage of unknown cases was 9.29 during the year 1919-20 against
7.75 in the previous year. The average annual percentage for the triennium was
8.00 against 7.53 in the previous triennium.
6. During the year under report 107,383 persons were re-vaccinated against
79,195 in 1918-19 and 114,163 in 1917-18. The annual average number of persons
re-vaccinated during the triennium was 100,247 against 67,409 in the preceding
triennium, showing an increase of 32,838. This increase was due to the prevalence
of small-pox in some districts and also to a large number of people being re-
vaccinated at Famine Relief Works. The number of successful re-vaccinations
was 37,513 during 1919-20 against 26,300 in 1918-19 and 25,227 in 1917-18.
The annual average number of successful re-vaccinations was 29,680 against
19,268 in the preceding triennial period.
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