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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 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 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 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 which have in practice been met by persons from this country travelling
abroad.
During the year a total of 744 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 11
Faeces 1,054
Urines 2
Miscellaneous 3