New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-12
PROTESTS AT VACCINATION.
Citizen Angered at Disregard of Certificate
by School Doctors

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: There IS widespread indignation among
parents whose children attend Public School No 81
at 1e4th-st and Amsterdam-ave, on account Of the
arbitrary action Of health officials
Of vaccination. Scores of protests are being made
that very young children being subjected TO
the painful process. notwithstanding the fact that
they have undergone the operation within two or
three years. and il some instances less than
year ago
There are many citizens, including myself who
are skepticaI to the advantages Of vaccination,
and who believe that the results are often the re-
verse of beneficial These are obliged to disregard
their convictions by reason OF the fact that the law
makes vaccination of school children compulsory.
Still the regulations OF the Board of Education and
the Health Department provide that successful vac
clnation shall be regarded as effective for period
OF five or seven years. in spite OF this, and in'spte
Of the fact that all pupils must show certificates
Of successful vaccination before they be regis
tered on the rolls of the school, those az No 81 who
are even in their first term there are being jaooed
and inoculated with vaccine in spite Of the LOUD
protests OF parents.
NJ, own lf+rIe girl eight years old. was admitted
"a the school last winter az that time exhibiting
an official certificate sgnet by Dr. LederIs, health
officer OF the city. showing that she had been sue
cessfulIy vaccinated September Il 1865 This was
entirely satisfactory and a the beginning Of the
rresant term the same certificate was effective. The
child IS in the ga grade which consists OF class
Of thfrty-eight, all Of whom had. OF course, been
vaCcinated or they would not have been ao-
-,itted. The ages Of the children in this primary
grade almost precIuded tho possibility OF the time
limit Of five or seven years since vaccination nav
ing expired.
On Mondav last my little girl was told she would
Inot5e senf the certifcate with her with instruc
tons to show II TO the Board OF heath 9oCl9l, 50
Dr. cross called the class He was shown the ne
girls certifieate and seyffl tbf he vaccnated
Ali bug three How these escaped IS not known
that the marks Of the previous vaccination only
two years old, were plainly visible. ,,o, ri,cina1
and asked for an explanation ohe Wa . o1g
f1ecessarv On learning this had been produced
the principal suggested that possibly no Gaze vas
upon it When this also was disproyea Lhe pm,
cfpaI practically admitted that the reyaccnatlon a
had been unTlecessary MealL me C srsSSs -
this school and the parents in the vicinity are up
The father OF another child heard Of the proposed
wholesale vaccination Of the pupils; and called at
brn5osa 70 have IL done again He was told that
the Health Department had ordered all children
attending the school vaccinated- re rep4leu tnat
case, He was told he must send the child to school
or run the risk of going u jail .7 .. ,.,o,,+ %
school children certain periods whether they need
they might be called upon to submit 70 the process
once month or even once a week. II my GLi i
been permitted to attend the school all until
1gcciTation was performed If the certificate is Of
snv use at al it should surely have protected her
from the pain and discomfort Of reyaccnation
New-YoTk. Oct. Il, 1905 A CITIZEN
Health Commissioner THOMAS Darlington said
Yesterday that his physicians vaccinated children
whose scars showed that they were in need Of
treatment, regardless Of when they had been
treated before. He continued;
Where d child Is not il need Of treatment the
virus will not take and the wound Will heal III
few dsys. If the virus does take the fact IS proof
fhat the child had been susceptible 10 smallpox.
TZxen IL a few children are unnecessarily Incon-
--erisuced 81 is necessary to preserve the ctty's
rTiidreu as q whole from the scodrse. The Health
T1r3artr.ent cannot afford to take chances Where
+ba,a is any doubt about chldS need OF treat
nanf cur doctors arc instructed 20 take the safe
NIe,1icai opinion is divided upon the question
"a bnyy long vaccination is effective The opinion
so,,grs from one to seven years but believe that
4oIiE cars i about the length Of the period
~ 70 statements that doctors do not take
.,-.e,ar nrecautions in treating children in the
Ptrnois + cannot believe that they are not careful.
STjIs,- have a regular formula 10 carry 2u- hey
-. ,Tsa the same Instruments TWICE without
Ias- r-Lav are old in the service OF this depart
80 and are 10 be relied &C do their work as
s-.d no matter what stories the children may
bring home