Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-29
HEALTH OFFICER MAY EAR
 UNvACCINATED CIVIL DREN

The state department of health has been asked whether a local health of ficer has authority to exclude unvac- cinated children from school, says Df. T. E. Reeks in his weekly report as director of the bureau of prevehtabie diseases in this state Section 2S94 of the General Statutes of COnf1ecticut provides that a town health officer shall have and exercise all the pow CTS necessary and proper for preServ- ing the public health and preventing against smallpox is universally rec ognized as a necessary precaution to prevent the spread of a. ioathsome and dangerous contagious disease. and the authority conferred by the statute quoted is sufficient to sustain local health officers who order the exclusion from school of unvaccinated children. Section sSs of the General Statutes school committees and boards of edu- cation the specific authority to require every child to be vaccinated before being permitted to attend public school under their jurisdiction.
 Before Jenner discovered vaccina- ton, more than a hundred years ago, smallpox was disease of childhood. Adults were practically immune be- cause most of them had had the dis ease in their early years. In the mid dle of the 18th century one death in every ten was attributed to smallpox. Today the disease is comparatively
 
 we must never forget that vaccination is the preventive measure which has conquered this ancient plague and it is. necessary to continue the practice to inusure ourselves against it's re- crudesceEce. The narents and grand parents of many of us saw all the harrors of smallpox in epidemic form and were quick to grasp the benefits which vaccination offered The pres ent generation. however, is not fla miliar with the terrors of the disease and health authorities md it neces- sary to wage constant battle to re- tain the in-munity which compulsory vaccination has given us. =
 About year ago there was an out break of smallpox on a large tobacco farm near Windsor Origin was traced to a negro who had recently come from the south. The local health of ficer promptly reported the cases to the state department of health and the commissioner and his deputy went Immediately to the affected district. Vaccination of all fhe workers was ordered and within forty-eight hours more than thousand persons were inoculated with vaccine. Not another case developed and a grave public danger passed so otufetly and quick " as scarcely to attract attention.
 When smallpox was the deadIiest sc ~~re of Japan. the emperor sent c 7tssion of scientists to the United States to study the effects of vaccin- ation. As a result of their report an imperial edict was issued requiring the vacciration of all children before reaching the age of one year and again hefore reaching the age of ten The disease is now as rare among the Japanese IS among us.
 Vaccination is no more dangerous when properly cared for, than any pin schatch on the skin. The T.. $. pub lie health service reports that within the past two years more than 3.00o. 900 persons have been vaccina ted in this country without a single death ..
 After two successful vaccinations ] protection usually lasts a lifetime but no person should feel confident of inn nunitv unless. successfully vaccinat- sd within five years.
 Parents have the right to demand fer their children in school all the health protection the state can give. Most parents appreciate the value of and will support school and health officers who re- Iuire unvacciDa ted children to be ex- eIuded from school.