2
VACCINATION REPORT.
It will be seen from the foregoing table that there were 885,260 persons
primarily vaccinated and 46,487 revaccinated, against 900,232 and 58,470 re-
spectively last year, showing a net decrease of 14,972, or 1.66 per cent., in primary
vaccination and 11,983, or 20.49 per cent., in revaccination. The only increase
recorded was 38 under primary vaccination in the British Army and 236 under
revaccination in dispensaries during the year. On the whole there was in total
operations a decrease of 26,955, or 2.81 per cent., over the preceding year for
the entire Presidency. The causes of decrease are given below:—
Increase and decrease in
primary vaccination.
4. In primary vaccination there is a considerable decrease in the Southern
Registration District, viz. 19,824, or 11.58 per cent.
less than the previous year. This is accounted for
by sickness amongst many of the vaccinators owing to
the influenza epidemic which was severely felt in the beginning of the year in
most of the large towns in this district. Besides, the Census operations made
work more difficult and troublesome; the whole vaccination staff was placed at
the disposal of the Census authorities, and although vaccinators were warned not
to let vaccination work be interfered with, many gave Census duties as an excuse
for the decrease in vaccine operations. The absence of 20 vaccinators, who were
brought to Bombay for two months to receive instruction in animal vaccination
caused a decrease to a certain extent in the amount of work done. In the Eastern
Gujarát Registration District, a decrease of 3,346 was recorded. A slight decrease
exists in the Western Gujarát Circle, Cutch, Native Army and Aden, Muskat,
Bushire and Khelat. In Sind, however, there was an increase of 7,693 persons,
and in 5 other circles also there was a slight increase. The net decrease, under
this head, over the preceding year was 14,972, or 1.66 per cent.
Increase and decrease in
revaccination.
5. In revaccination, an increase of 1,005 was distributed over the Sind
Registration District and Baroda Circle, but in all other
districts and circles there was a decrease. The decrease
under this head is chiefly due to the fact that opposition
to revaccination exists everywhere, and vaccinators are unable to induce people to
submit to the operation. Very little improvement in this direction can be expected
unless vaccination be made compulsory. In the Presidency Circle, there was a
decrease of 2,676 under this head, which is owing to 2,614 persons having been re-
vaccinated on board pilgrim ships in 1889-90, while during the year under report
only 485 such persons were revaccinated. In the Southern Registration District
the decrease is attributed to the very little work done by the dispensary medical
officers of the 6 Native State dispensaries, where there are no trained vaccinators.
The net decrease was 11,983, or 20.49 per cent.
Increase and decrease in
total operation.
6. As regards total operations an increase is shown in the Western, Central
and Sind Registration Districts and Baroda Circle,
whilst in all other districts and circles there was more
or less of a decrease. The total net decrease for the
entire Presidency was 26,955, or 2.81 per cent.
Infants successfully vacci-
nated as compared with avail-
able number.
7. The following table shows the number of infants successfully vaccinated
during the year under review in the Presidency
exclusive of Native States. The birth and death statis-
tics are taken for the calendar year, as usual, in calcu-
lating the number available for vaccination, because
infants are generally not vaccinated until 3 months after birth :—
Years.
1 8 8 9 - 9 0 . . . . . . . . . . . .
1890-91...
...
...
...
Births
returned as
having been
registered.
600,489
641,115
Deaths regis-
tered among
children under
1 year.
107,724
98,401
Children
available for
vaccination.
492,765
542,714
Children
under 1 year
vaccinated
successfully.
391,511
401,904
Children
remained to be
vaccinated
under 1 year.
101,254
140,810
The above table shows that the successfully vaccinated fell short of the
registered births minus deaths amongst those under 1 year old. Out of 542,714
infants available for vaccination under one year 401,904, or 74.05 per cent., have
been protected, and 140,810, or 25.95 per cent., remained unprotected.