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33
The Final Report of the Royal Commission on
Vaccination.
This report has just been issued and is signed by eleven of
the thirteen Commissioners appointed to enquire and report
as to—
1. The effect of vaccination in reducing the prevalence of, and
mortality from, small-pox.
2. What means, other than vaccination, can be used for
diminishing the prevalence of ' small-pox; and how far such
means could be relied on in place of vaccination.
3. The objections made to vaccination on the ground of
injurious effects alleged to result therefrom; and the nature and
extent of any injurious effects which do, in fact, so result.
4. Whether any and, if so, what means should be adopted for
preventing or lessening the ill effects, if any, resulting from
vaccination ; and whether, and, if so, by what means, vaccination
with animal vaccine should be further facilitated as part of
public vaccination.
5. Whether any alteration should be made in the arrangements
and proceedings for securing the performance of vaccination,
and, in particular, in the provisions of the Vaccination Acts with
respect to prosecutions for non-compliance with the Law.
Of the eleven Commissioners who sign the report, two sign
a supplementary paragraph, in which they state that:—"We
think that in all cases in which a parent or guardian refuses
to allow vaccination, the person so refusing should be summoned
before a magistrate, as at present, and that the only
change made should be to permit the magistrate to accept a
sworn deposition of conscientious objection, and to abstain
from the infliction of a fine.
"We also are of opinion that, in spite of the difficulties set
forth in paragraph 533, a second vaccination at the age of
twelve ought to be made compulsory."
Four of the Commissioners, viz., two who have signed the
majority report, and two who have not, sign the following
supplementary paragraph :—
We cordially concut in the recommendation that conscientious
objection to vaccination should be respected. The objection that
mere negligence or unwillingness on the part of parents to take
trouble might keep many children from being vaccinated would
be largely, if not wholly, removed by the adoption of the Scotch
system of offering vaccination at the home of the child, and by
providing for medical treatment of any untoward results which
may arise.
We therefore think that the modified form of compulsion
recommended by our colleagues is unnecessary and that in
practice it could not be carried out.
The hostility which compulsion has evoked in the past toward
the practice of vaccination is fully acknowledged in the Report.
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