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However, since 1898, when the 'conscientious objection' clause
made its appearance, vaccinations have declined steeply and the
position deteriorated still further from 1948 when vaccination
became optional.
Glycerinated calf lymph is the standard vaccine used in this
country and the number of vaccinations carried out in the Borough
at the County Council clinics during 1964 was 720.
This figure, although showing an increase of 563 over that
for the previous year, contrasts unfavourably with that of 1,397
for 1962 (the year of the last 'scare') and indicates the public's
attitude towards vaccination under normal circumstances and its
almost hysterical reaction at times of emergency reflecting,
perhaps, an anxiety born of a feeling of culpable neglect.
In Greenwich during the last 14 years 18,617 births have been
registered, and for the same period only 9,703 vaccinations have
been effected, a figure equivalent to 52.1%. In this connection it
is only fair to state that a number of these vaccinations were
effected in conformity with the requirements concerning the issue
of international vaccination certificates.
Occasionally a smallpox scare in the country results in a jump
in the number of vaccinations effected, as witnessed at the beginning
of 1962, but generally the trend is downwards.
Today, although every precaution is taken at seaports and
airports, infected persons do occasionally slip through but the
comparative immunity of the country has hitherto been due mainly
to its high vaccination state. With the fall in the number of vaccinations
this fortunate state of affairs cannot be expected to
continue. Recognising this danger, the Minister of Health has
strengthened the powers of the Port and Airport Health Authorities
with the introduction of new Regulations operative from 1st
August, 1963.
International Certificates (Ministry of Health Circular
20/52).—The question of authentication of International Certificates
of vaccination has now been settled by the adoption of thenational
Sanitary Regulations (W.H.O. Regulations No. 2) which
replaced the International Sanitary Conventions on 1st October.
1952. The Regulations prescribe inter alia, new forms ofnational
Certificates of vaccination against Cholera and Smallpox
and, to be valid, the certificate must bear an approved stamp
which certifies that the signature of the Vaccinator is that of a
practising medical practitioner.
During the year some 670 certificates of persons proceeding
abroad were so authenticated, of these 548 were in respect of
Smallpox, 97 Cholera and 25 for Typhoid.