TRIENNIAL REPORT
ON
VACCINATION IN ASSAM
FOR THE YEARS
1911-12, 1912-13 and 1913-14.
Introductory.
As vaccinations are performed in the hill tracts and in the Manipur State, the
statistics in this report include those concerning the
population of those regions, and are based on the total
population of the Province of Assam according to the Census of 1911, viz., 7,059,857.
Vaccination agencies.
2. Almost all vaccination operations in the province are performed by depart-
mental vaccinators. In tea gardens vaccination opera-
tions are performed by tea-garden medical officers.
In the first year of the triennium under review there were 331 vaccinators, in the
second 330 and in the last 353. The average number of persons vaccinated by each
vaccinator was 914 in 1913-14, against 964 in l912-13 and 877 in 1911-12.
Total number of operations.
3. Of the 336,649 vaccination operations performed during the year 1913-14,
301,241 were primary vaccinations, and 35,408 re-vaccina-
tions, against 333,363 with 98,983 primary vaccinations
and 34,380 re-vaccinations in 1912-13, and 305,845 with 290,915 primary vaccinations
and 14,930 re-vaccinations in 1911-12.
During the triennium 1911-12, 1912-13 and 1913-14, the total number of
vaccination operations performed were 975,857, against 803,061 in the previous
triennium, showing an increase of 172,796 cases, which is satisfactory. In 1902—03,
the number of operations performed was 881,025 and the number of cases vaccinated
in the triennium under review compares favourably with the numbers in 1902—05.
The variations in the district figures are discussed in section 8.
Mortality from small-pox.
4. The ratio of deaths from small-pox per 1,000 of population during the year 1913
was .40, against .67 in 1912 and .35 in 1911. In each
year of the triennium the highest rate was recorded in
Kamrup. Vaccination has been vigorously pushed in this district, and this resulted
in an increase of 36,077 operations during the triennium under review, as compared
with the previous triennium.
No widespread epidemic of small-pox was reported in any district. In 1912-13
the disease prevailed in certain parts of the Sylhet district, but its progress was
arrested by activity in carrying on vaccination operations in affected areas. The Civil
Surgeon, Goalpara, reports an outbreak of small-pox in 1913-14 from Lakhipur, Dudnai,
Sidli (Circle III), Guma, and certain parts of Bilasipara thana. Extra vaccinators
were appointed and vaccination was continued during the off season.
The diagram showing death rates from small-pox and the protection afforded by
successful vaccination is attached.
Dispensary vaccination.
5. During the year 1913-14, 1,324 vaccination operations were performed by
the dispensary staff, against 1,590 in 1912-13 and 1,678
in 1911-12 The areas round dispensaries reserved for
the dispensary staff were opened to the departmental vaccinators in 1908-09 and
dispensary vaccination is now confined to the hill districts. A small quantity of lymph
is kept in certain dispensaries in the plains for those who prefer to be vaccinated by
this agency.
Percentage of successful opera¬
tions.
6. The percentage of success of operations performed by all establishments com-
bined was 98.41 in the case of primary vaccinations and
78.15 in that of re-vaccinations in 1913-14, against 97.91
and 73.99, respectively, in 1912-13 and 98.14 and 80.98,
respectively, in 1911-12.