VACCINATION REPORT
13
perusal of the previous annual reports on vaccination shows that the success rate
under primary vaccination was 91.8 per cent in 1913-14, 9.0 8 in 1914-15, 87.7 in
1915-16 and 86.7 in 1916-17. The success rate during 1917-18 as already
observed was 83.4 so that there has been a continuous fall in the success rate from
year to year. Steps taken by means of special circulars to improve the technique
of operation and to use the lymph promptly and by the issue of tri-monthly supply
of vaccine lymph to certain selected localities to ensure the more prompt use of
lymph have not been of much avail. There is no doubt that many of the old
vaccinators are difficult to be moved out of their old grooves. The fall is put
down by several of the Deputy Inpectors to the indifference shown by unqualified
vaccinators who expected to be ousted out of the department on the introduction
of the new scheme. But even all these do not wholly explain the steady fall in the
success rate. A trial with the use of freshly prepared lymph as opposed to stored
lymph made towards the close of the year showed some improvement in the
result and the supply of fresh lymph is now being continued.
To ensure good vaccination three factors are necessary, viz. (1) good lymph,
(2) good vaccinator, and (3) compulsory powers. The authorities at the King
Institute are constantly on the alert to ensure a supply of good lymph. It is
earnestly hoped that the district authorities will take full advantage of the G.O.
No. 963 L., dated 4th July 1917, to purge the department of the old and useless
vaccinators and to provide a proper set of men with suitable education and special
training instead. It would indeed be a false sense of sympathy to exempt and
continue in service any of the old vaccinators who cannot do full justice to their
work And last but by no means the least I hope the Government will be pleased
to introduce compulsory vaccination in all the districts except perhaps in the
Agency tracts as soon as possible. In the absence of compulsory powers it is
difficult to collect children in a suitable place for vaccination and verification of
results and it remains to be seen whether the scheme sanctioned in G.O. No.
963 L., dated 4th July 1917, is even practicable without it.
Infantile vaccination.—When compared with the previous year there was a!
fall of 38,544 in the number of children successfully vaccinated under one year
of age. The districts which show a marked decrease in this respect are the
Nilgiris (— 13.2%), Kistna (— 11.4%), Malabar (—11.3%) and Bellary (—10.1%).
The following districts show a decided increase in this respect: Ganjām (+ 36.4%),
Tanjore (+ 15.3%) and South Arcot (+11.6%). Among municipalities Gudiyāttam
(+ 42.9%), Virudupatti(+41.0%), Narasaraopet (+36.4%), Karūr (+ 31.7%),
Vāniyambādi (+29.8%), Dhārāpuram (+28.1%), Erode (+ 27.7%), Coimbatore
(+ 27.2%) and Salem (+ 27.2%) show an increase and Bellary (— 55.7%), Coonoor
(— 35.7%) and Peddapur (— 30.1%) show a marked decrease.
(iv) The cost of the various vaccination staffs and the average cost of each
successful case are exhibited in the subjoined statement:—
Establishment.
Government establishment ...
Local fund
do.
...
Municipal
do. ...
Cantonments
do ...
Total
...
Total expenditure.
1916-17.
RS.
10,690
2,86,188
42,511
3,408
3,42,709
A.
12
5
8
15
8
P.
6
0
2
0
8
1917-18.
RS.
10,797
2,83,677
42,607
3,807
3,45,890
A.
4
10
13
8
4
P.
3
4
5
3
3
Average cost of each
successful case.
1916-17.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
A.
9
3
4
11
4
P.
6
10
10
10
1
1917-18.
RS.
0
0
0
0
0
A.
9
4
4
9
4
P.
7
2
5
9
3
When compared with the previous year there is a rise in the cost of all kinds
of establishment. The average cost of each successful case rose from As. 4-1 in
1916-17 to As. 4-3 in 1917-18. It varied from As. 2-7 in Guntūr district to
As. 10-11 in the Nilgiris.
* Exclusive of the pay and allowances of the Inspectors of Vaccination and Deputy Sanitary Commissioners.
D