NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEAR 1917-18.
3
Lower Chindwin District, 72.92 in Thayetmyo District and 99.24 in Meiktila
District.
Statement
III.
7. Dispensary Vaccination.—The total of operations was 2,787, a decrease
of 1,291 on the previous year's returns, but showing a small increase, under the
head of re-vaccination operations, of 85. The decrease under primary operations
(1,376) is due to freedom from small-pox, dispensary vaccination being wholly
voluntary. It is noted that there was an increase of 507 operations in the dispen-
saries of the Irrawaddy Division, confined to three districts, Bassein, Myaungmya
and Henzada ; an increase of 38 operations in Kyaukpyu District; of 40 operations
in Mandalay District, 98 in Sagaing District, and 18 in Shwebo District. Several
districts send no returns of dispensary vaccination, e.g. Akyab, Rangoon Town
District, Insein, Pegu, Prome, Pyapôn, Tavoy, Thatôn, Bhamo, Ruby Mines,
Thayetmyo, Minbu, Yamèthin, Kyauksè, and Myingyan, and the Northern Shan
States.
8. Vaccination in Towns.—The total primary successful operations performed
in towns in 1917-18 was 31,633 or 2,835 less than in the previous year. The
percentage of successes was 92.14 against 98.30 in the former period. The
lowest success rate was achieved at Bhamo 65.49, while Wakèma only obtained
81.20. and Nyaunglebin, Thatôn, and Mergui between 82.00 and 83.00.
Appendix B.
9. Infant Vaccination in Towns.—It is noted that, as in previous years, so in
the year under report, there was in many towns a large deficiency in the number of
infants vaccinated under 12 months of age. Various reasons are offered by Civil
Surgeons for this result, such as postponement of vaccination on account of ill-
health, migration of parents of infants from the town, high mortality of infants, low
birth-rate and so on. Too often no remark is made by the Civil Surgeon in
explanation of the deficiency. It is probable that some of the explanations offered
are made in a haphazard manner, without careful investigation.
Under the provisions of the Vaccination Act every child living in a town
ought to be protected against small-pox by vaccination, and it appears to me that
any outbreak of small-pox in towns affecting children under ten years of age is
discreditable to the Town Administration whether it be a Municipal or Town
Committee. The prevention of small-pox is a branch of sanitation which every
member of a Municipal or Town Committee should have at heart, since it is within
the power of his Committee to protect the whole town's population from the risks
attaching to this horrible disease by steadfastly prosecuting the vaccination of
children of tender age, year by year. With a view to stimulating the interest of
Municipal and Town Committees in this subject, I give below a list of towns
where vaccination appears to be prosecuted with less vigour and thoroughness than
is demanded by the vital issues at stake as well as a list of those towns where
vaccination is progressively improving, and where the Administrative Committee
and Vaccination Staff are to be congratulated upon the returns.
I would suggest that all Municipal Committees and Town Committees
should, at least once in the year, examine into the position of their town population
with reference to its state of protection from small-pox, and take action upon the
results revealed by the enquiry.
Towns showing a high rate of infant vaccination.—Special credit attaches
to the excellent results obtained at Mandalay, Thôngwa, Nyaunglebin, Pyapôn,
Moulmein, Tavoy, Pakôkku, and the three towns of Yamèthin District—Yamèthin
Pyinmana, and Pyawbwè. Other towns with a highly creditable record are Akyab,
Pegu, Myanaung, Wakèma, Mergui, Yenangyaung, Myingyan, Nyaungu, and
Thayetmyo.
Towns showing a marked deficit in infant vaccination.—The following lists
show the percentages of survivors of births not vaccinated :—
Over 10 per cent.
Rangoon ...
Paungde ...
Bassein...
Yandoon ...
Danubyu ...
Letpadan ...
Gyobingauk ...
Shwegyin ...
Shwebo ...
Over 20 percent.
Prome ...
Thatôn ...
Kyaikto ...
Kawkareik
...
Allanmyo ...
Minbu ...
...
...
...
Over 30 per cent.
Kyaukpyu ...
Taungdwingyi ...
Magwe ...
Syriam ...
Ngathaing-
gyaung.
Henzada ...
Kyangin ...
...
...
Over 40 per cent.
Sandoway ...
Myaungmya ...
Maymyo ...
Sagaing ...
...
...
...
...
...
Over 60 per cent.
Toungoo ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Over 80 per
cent.
Katha. ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...