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156
1903]
THE STATE OF VACCINATION.
The return relating to vaccination is always more than twelve months
late, because it is not possible for the vaccination officers to obtain a large
number—perhaps the largest number—of the certificates of successful vaccination
until after a period of six months has elapsed from the birth of the infant.
The complete return for 1902 has only just been made available, and when it
is compared with those of the seven years immediately preceding, it may be
considered a favourable one. Albeit there is nothing to go into ecstasies over,
for it is most regrettable to find that 20 per cent. of the infants born during
that year had not been vaccinated.
The return shows that out of 9,055 births of infants, of whom 818 died
before they had been vaccinated, 6,593, or 80.0 per cent., were successfully
vaccinated, as against 75.8 per cent. in 1901
It would have been pleasant to think that this increase had come about
through a growing belief, on the part of the parents, in the protective powers
ot vaccination against small pox, but the fact cannot be denied that during
1902 this disease was unusually prevalent, and that, consequently, special efforts
were made to induce parents to get their children vaccinated; and also that, in
all probability, fear of the disease, which affects even the professing antivaccinator,
was a potent factor in effecting the same object.