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108
Seventy per cent of the parents accepted in 1956, which was
the same percentage as in 1955, 12% of those tested were tuberculin
positive compared with 8,6% the mean figures for the two years
being 10% tuberculin positive. There appears to be an increased
reaction to the Mantoux test in 1956 compared with 1955, For
1955 there were 25,7% "strong" Mantoux positive reactions, while
in 1956 there were 40.2%,.
The B.C.G. vaccination reactions again showed no excessive
ulceration or abscess formation, (2,278 children have now been
B.C.G. vaccinated in this Area under the present scheme). The
Mantoux positive children referred to the chest clinic during the
year were all found to be free from tuberculosis,.
The general medical practitioners in the Area have been
notified of the results of Mantoux testing and informed when each
child has been vaccinated.
The staff of the schools visited and the chest physicians
have throughout the year shown the utmost consideration and
co-operation.
M.B.C. Clinical Trials with B.C.G.
In 1956 the Medical Research Council published the first
progress report of their Tuberculosis Vaccines Clinical Trials
undertaken by Dr. T M Pollock. It has been previously reported
that school leavers in this Area in 1951 volunteered to take part
and that they have been followed up by the health visitors since.
The investigation consisted of a controlled clinical trial of
B.C.G, and Vole bacillus vaccines in the prevention of tuberculosis
in adolescent boys and girls. The results in the test areas
appeared satisfactory in so far as the trials indicated that each
vaccine conferred a substantial and similar degree of protection
against tuberculosis over the period of the trial.
In the above trials the participants were investigated towards
the end of their 15th year by which time 4 0% were tuberculin
positive using old tuberculin for the Mantoux test. In 1955 and
1956 in this Area the 13 - 14 age group were Mantoux tested using
Purified Protein Derivative and only 10% found to be tuberculin
positive. This figure is therefore far below that of the Medical
Research Council trials, but other information available has shown
that other neighbouring areas vaccinating the same age group and
using P.P.D for the Mantoux test have a percentage of tuberculin
positive children which is similar to ours.