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28
Re-housing of Tuberculosis patients.
Fifteen families were re-housed specifically on the grounds
of the presence of infective tuberculosis, so that the patient could
have a separate bedroom.
B.C.G. Vaccination.
In July, 1950, (he .Minister of Health gave his approval (o the
Council's proposals under Section 28 of the National Health
Service Act regarding the arrangements for B.C.G. (Bacillus
Calmette Guerin) vaccination.
This form of inoculation is the same in principle as, for
instance, smallpox vaccination, viz., to produce in the human
body an artificially acquired resistance to the disease by injecting
its causal organism in a form which does not cause development
of the disease itself. B.C.G. vaccine is prepared from a bovine
type of the tubercle bacillus that has been rendered so little
virulent as to be harmless, but is still effective in helping the body
to resist invasion of the active virulent germ of tuberculosis. It
is not yet certain that this vaccination gives complete immunity
again ^ the disease, but there is no doubt that it reduces the
danger of infection.
B.C.G. can only be of benefit to those who have not been
naturally infected with the tubercle bacillus, i.e., to persons who
do not re-act to the strongest tuberculin skin test. Before B.C.G.
vaccination is given, therefore, it is necessary for the person to
undergo tuberculin tesls, and the results of these tests must be
negative if B.C.G. is to be given.
Under the arrangements for introducing the use of li.C.(i.
in England and Wales, the vaccine is made available to physicians
with special knowledge and experience of tuberculosis. Facilities
for vaccination are provided for groups of persons at special risk,
such as contacts of persons suffering from tuberculosis, and
nurses.
In the latter part of 1950 a start was made with these two
groups, and 23 Contacts and 18 Nurses were successfully vaccinated.
The contacts were mostly vaccinated whilst the known
patient was away having institutional treatment or were removed
from the home to the care of relatives until vaccination was
successful.