6
NOTES AND STATISTICS ON VACCINATION IN BURMA
Yamèthin with 33.17 per cent., Wakèma with 32.42 per cent., Mergui
30.72 per cent., Yenangyaung 29.34 per cent. Pakôkku 27.73 per cent.,
Henzada 27.55 per cent. and Sagaing 26.20 per cent. These towns
are incurring a grave danger which they would do well to realise.
It has been pointed out elsewhere that the registration of births
in many towns is not satisfactory and this naturally militates against
improving the state of vaccination in such towns.
Statt.
III.
8. Dispensary Vaccination.—The total number of operations was
6,338,—an increase of 1,708 on the previous year's returns,—this being
mainly contributed by the rise in primary vaccinations ; while under
the head of re-vaccinations an increase of only 57 is recorded. Five
of the districts of Lower Burma show a total decrease of 1,191 cases,
and these in detail are Hill District of Arakan (21), Kyaukpyu (63),
Tharrawaddy (838), Bassein (246) and Henzada (23). The districts
of Hanthawaddy, Myaungmya, Ma-ubin, Pyapôn, Amherst and Mergui
show a total increase of 627 cases over last year's figures. Thus in
the districts of Lower Burma which have submitted returns under the
Head of Dispensary Vaccination there is a net decrease of 564
cases recorded this year. In Upper Burma; Sagaing, Lower Chin-
dwin, Yamèthin, Myingyan, Minbu and Putao have submitted no
statistics for dispensary vaccination. Katha District and the Southern
Shan States show a decrease of 146 and 169 cases respectively against
their last year's returns ; while those of the remaining districts
of Upper Burma show a consolidated increase of 2,587 over last
year's figures, so that there is an increase of 2,272 operations. These
operations include those performed by Sub-Assistant Surgeons whilst
touring on escort and outpost duty in certain districts in Upper
Burma.
Statt.
V.
9. Vaccination in Jails.—In an average population of 18,211 in
36 jails 30,943 persons were vaccinated; 1,312 being primary cases
and 29,631 being re-vaccinations. Of the former class of operations,
1,090 or 83.08 per cent. were successful and there were 14,679
(49.53 per cent.) successful re-vaccinations. Considering the age of
the subjects, it is probable that most of these primary operations
were performed upon previously vaccinated persons.
10. Vaccination by Private Practitioners.—Private Practitioners
performed 4,999 operations, of which 1,660 were primary cases with
94.86 per cent. of success. The results of 648 primary operations and
2,047 re-vaccinations were unknown.
11. Steamer Vaccination.—Under the provisions of Section 9 of
the Burma Vaccination Law Amendment Act of 1909, 27,155 passen-
gers arriving at the Port of Rangoon were vaccinated by the
Corporation Vaccination Staff under the supervision of the Port Health
Authorities, but from the nature of the circumstances attending such
operations the results could not be verified. These figures show an
increase of 9,012 operations performed in comparison with the
previous year.
12. Verification Work performed by Inspecting Officers.—Out
of 548,054 persons primarily vaccinated, 51,594 or 9.41 per cent. were
verified by Civil Surgeons against 8.39 in the previous year, and
286,169 or 52.22 per cent. by Inspectors of Vaccination and other
Inspecting Officers against 52.52 per cent. in 1922-23. The work of