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AUTHENTICATION OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION CERTIFICATES.
In several parts of the world certificates of vaccination and/or
inoculation are not accepted unless they are endorsed by a Medical
Officer in the Government or Municipal Service of the country of
issue. The form of authentication which appears to be most readily
accepted by Health Authorities abroad is that given by Public Health
Authorities and identified by a rubber stamp impression placed by
them on the certificate. The Minister of Health therefore has
asked Local Authorities to make arrangements under which any person
who desires to have a certificate of vaccination or inoculation for
the purpose of travel abroad may have it stamped accordingly at the
office of the Health Department.
The purpose of the authentication is to provide proof to those
Health Authorities abroad who desire it that the signature of the
person issuing the certificate is that of a registered medical
practitionero Authenticators are not required to certify that the
vaccination or inoculation has been properly carried out or, indeed,
that it has been carried out at all; the responsibility for issuing
the certificate remains with the Doctor signing it.
This does not imply any suggestion that a certificate of
vaccination or inoculation issued by a registered Medical Practitioner
requires any official supervision or control in order to be of
adequate medical value. Authentication is not a requirement of
Her Majesty's Government but the proposal is designed as a remedy for
difficulties whieh have in practice been met by persons from this
country travelling abroad.
During the year a total of 459 certificates of vaccination and/
inoculation were authenticated by the Medical Officer of Health.