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18
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,
whereby practitioners signatures are verified by the Medical Officer of
Health. The Minister of Health therefore has asked Local Authorities to make arrange
ments 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 practitioner. 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 inocula
tion issued by a registered Medical Practitioner requires any, official supervision or
control in order to be of adequate medical value. Authentication is not a require
ment of Her Majesty s Government but the proposal is designed as a remedy for difficulties
which have in practice been met by persons from this country travelling
abroad.
During the year a total of 457 certificates of vaccination and/or inoculation were
authenticated
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS
The following bacteriological examinations were carried out for the Council on
specimens submitted by general practitioners and the Public Health Department during
the year.
Nose and Throat Swabs
35
Faeces
1,633
Urines
2
Miscellaneous
12