4
A scrutiny of these indices shows that the poorly protected districts
where special efforts are required to extend vaccination are Simla, Jhelum,
Montgomery, Hoshiarpur and Gujrat.
Special Staff.
Statement No. I and
its Appendix,
5. The Special Staff performed a total of 44,520 vaccinations as com-
pared with 59,815 in the previous year (decrease 15,295). The number of
primary vaccinations were 28,648 which is an increase of 6,503 as compared
with the previous year and 15,872 re-vaccinations which is a decrease as com¬
pared with the previous year of 21,798.
An increase in the number of primary vaccinations performed by the
Special Staff is satisfactory in view of the fact that primary vaccination of
infants in the Simla Hill States is unpopular. The decrease in the number of
re-vaccinations when compared with the previous year is accounted for by the
fact that steps were taken, as mentioned in last year's report, to prevent the
performance of unnecessary re-vaccinations for the purpose of swelling the
returns.
Cantonment Staff.
Statement
No. 1
and Appendix.
6. During the year under report 6,456 vaccinations (4,827 primary
and 1,629 re-vaccinations) were performed in cantonments by the Cantonment
Staff of vaccinators These figures indicate an increase of 241 primary vaccin-
ations and 907 re-vaccinations. Of the above 2,878 vaccinations were carried
out in Ambala Cantonment, 1,036 in Rawalpindi Cantonment, 730 in
Ferozepore Cantonment and 679 in Lahore Cantonment.
Dispensary Staff.
Statement No. III.
7. In only six districts out of 29 were any vaccinations performed by
the Medical Officers in charge of Dispensaries
The total number of these
vaccinations was 870, the figures for the previous year being 1,203. The small
number of vaccinations performed at dispensaries is disappointing. In many
small towns where financial difficulties prevent the entertainment of a special
vaccinator and where in many places there is not enough work for a whole-time
vaccinator there is no reason why medical subordinates in charge of dispensaries
should not perform the duties of a public vaccinator.
House- to - house
vaccination.
8. The total number of vaccinations performed by house-to-house
visitation was 5,594 as compared with 8,325 and 17,090 in the two previous
years. This system is not popular either with the people or with the vaccina-
tors and except in special cases it should be allowed to fall into desuetude.
Percentage
of
success.
State-
ment No. I.
9. The percentage of success of primary operations performed by all
establishments during the year was 97.78 as compared with 96.67 in the pre-
vious year, whilst in the case of re-vaccinations, the figures were 70.62 in
1923-24 as compared with 69.40 in the year 1922-23. The figures in the case
of the District Staff, Special Staff, Cantonment Staff and Dispensary Staff were
as follows : —
District Staff ... ...
Special Staff ... ...
Cantonment Staff ... ...
Dispensary Staff ... ...
Primary.
97.92
94.30
98.22
97.44
Re- vaccinations.
70.62
69.77
79.21
78.95
The slight increase in the percentage of successful vaccinations is satis-
factory during the year under review. The uniformly high rate of success of
primary vaccinations, which has always been a feature of vaccination in the
Punjab, is largely due to the fact that the manufacture of vaccine lymph is
arried out under favourable climatic conditions.
Cost of vaccina¬
tion.
Statement was
No. II.
10. The total cost of vaccination operations during the year 1923-24
Rs. 2,51,054-10-5 which constitutes an increase of Rs. 9,078-10-7 as