4
Vaccination in
Punjab States.
14. The number of primary vaccinations and re-vaccinations performed
in 1921-22 in those Native States which entertain their own vaccinators was as
follows:—
Patiala 43,395, 20,543 and Kapurthala 2,302, 590.
The percentage of successful primary vaccination was 98.57 in Patiala,
97.91 in Kapurthala.
In the case of re-vaccination the percentage of success was 74.23 in
Patiala and 64.92 in Kapurthala. No vaccination statements for the year under
report were received from the Faridkot, Jind, Bahawalpur and Nabha
States.
Vaccination in
Municipal towns.
Appendix A.
15. The number of successful vaccinations performed on children
under the age of one year in the municipalities in the province during the
year under report was slightly in excess of those performed last year, the
figures being 49,087 and 48,534. In the three largest towns of the Province
the percentage of successfully vaccinated children was 130 in Lahore,
83 in Amritsar, and 81 in Multan, as compared with 152, 85 and 56,
respectively, in 1920-21. In Lahore, after deducting infantile deaths
from births the number of children available was 6,764, and of those success-
fully vaccinated it was 8,802. This number doubtless includes children
born elsewhere, but residing within the limits of the municipality at the time
of vaccination. Eighty-two per cent. of the total number of children under one
year of age available for operation were successfully vaccinated in the towns in
which the Vaccination Act is in force as against 71 per cent. in those towns in
which it is not in force, the corresponding rates for the previous year being 86
and 48 per cent.
During the year the Vaccination Act was extended to only four Notified
Areas, viz., Chakwal (Jhelum District), Okara (Montgomery District), Ahmad¬
pur (Jhang District), and Samundri (Lyallpur District).
It has been reported that in the towns of Pind Dadan Khan,
Dharmsala, Kangra, and Palampur, the Vaccination Act, though in operation, is
not rigidly enforced so a large number of children thus remain unprotected.
In Pind Dadan Khan the vaccination work is done by a retired Sub-Assistant
Surgeon, who vaccinates as many children as are brought to him, but he
does not follow the prescribed procedure. The municipality is being asked to
appoint a qualified vaccinator in his place.
As a general rule, vaccination is gradually becoming popular among the
rural population, and there are not so many people now to be found who offer
resistance to primary vaccination.
If sufficient assistance is received towards vaccination from Lambardars,
Zaildars, Chowdries and Village Chowkidars, it would greatly help the Vacci-
nation staff in reducing the number of unprotected children in rural areas.
In Lyallpur the parents of 835 children refused to get their children
vaccinated and they have been reported to the Deputy Commissioner for
necessary action In the Multan town 52 prosecutions were proposed and with
the help of the court 36 of these were vaccinated. In Dera Ghazi Khan town
five cases were sent to Court which resulted in the infliction of a small fine by
the court, while in Rawalpindi out of six persons who were prosecuted, one was
fined Rs. 3 and the remaining acquitted. In Ambala and Rewari towns 21
and 117 cases were filed, of which 9 and 36, respectively, were vaccinated and
the remaining are pending.
Inoculation.
16. No instance of small-pox inoculation was reported during the year.
Diagram.
17. A diagram showing the death rate from small-pox per 10,000 of
population during 1921-22, the average rate of mortality from small-pox for the
five years ending 1920-21, the proportion of successful vaccinations in 1921-22
and for the preceding six years in each district of the Punjab is attached to the
report.