2
RESOLUTION ON THE TRIENNIAL REPORT ON VACCINATION IN BURMA FOR THE YEARS 1911-12 TO 1913-14.
Hanthawaddy and Ma-ubin Districts ; and the Lieutenant-Governor notes with
pleasure that in the case of the last two the work of the Department received
valuable support from the district officers concerned. The statistics relative
to the protection of children in towns are of great importance as the number
of successful operations in a given town sometimes exceeds the number
of children under twelve months of age who should be available for vacci-
nation according to the vital statistics. In the first place, as Colonel
Williams points out, the registration of births and deaths is not always to be
relied on, and Major Harriss, in examining a similar phenomenon in the last
triennial report, accounted for minor discrepancies by assuming that children of
immigrants and country folk were vaccinated within the urban area, and that
some of the registered deaths took place after vaccination.
His Honour
considers that the vaccination statistics afford a valuable opportunity for check-
ing the admittedly defective records of vital statistics and trusts that the oppor-
tunity so given for effecting an improvement on the latter is utilised.
When allowance has been made for all sources of error the average
protection rate of 102.84 is a distinct improvement on that for the former
triennium, 90.41. Civil Surgeons have displayed more energy in the verifica-
tion of primary vaccinations, especially in the middle year of the period, but
Sir Harvey Adamson regrets to observe that the verification of re-vaccinations is
yearly receiving less and less attention at their hands. In the last Triennial
Resolution it was remarked that several Civil Surgeons could and should devote
more of their time to this important work, and there is apparently need
to repeat this exhortation.
In many cases however, the Civil Surgeon's
duties at headquarters are too heavy to permit him to exercise effective super-
vision over the vaccination staff. The Lieutenant-Governor agrees with the
Superintendent-General that the first step towards an improvement in the work
of the Department must be to provide for competent supervision, and the
problem how best to effect this is receiving the attention of the Local Govern-
ment.
3. His Honour is glad to see that the Vaccine Depôt at Meiktila has still
further enhanced its reputation for efficiency. There has been an increased out-
turn of lymph, the number of doses prepared during 1913-14 amounting to
806,660, which is the highest figure yet attained. The same holds good of the
success-rate per cent. which has risen annually from 94.9 in 1910-11 till it now
stands at 96.75. Expenditure is also steadily rising, though the present Director,
Major Walker, is reported to have effected considerable economies in the purchase
and feeding of the calves. During the triennium the Depôt received a grant from
Imperial funds of Rs. 50,000, which is being spent on the construction of a new
laboratory, quarters for the staff, and additional stalls for calves. The old
laboratory is being converted into a lecture-room, and a cold-storage plant has been
installed. The Lieutenant-Governor takes this opportunity of acknowledging the
services of the Director and of the Assistant Director, Mr. Govinda Pillay, who
has received the title of Rao Sahib for his long and meritorious services at the
Depôt.
4. The Vaccination Act of 1880 was extended to six towns during the triennium.
The Burma Prohibition of Inoculation and Licensing of Vaccinators Act, 1908, has