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If the vaccinator is not an authorised user of an approved stamp, the person
vaccinated must have the certificate stamped by the local authority in whose area
the vaccinator practises. Some thousands of International Certificates were stamped
in this department during the year, authenticating the signature of the vaccinator.
The Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations, 1966, and The Public Health (Ships)
Regulations, 1966, which came into operation on the 1st April, made provision,
inter alia, for a new type of International Certificate of Vaccination against smallpox.
The new certificate requires that the origin and batch number of the vaccine
be stated and that the vaccine be a freeze-dried or liquid vaccine certified to fulfil
the recommended requirements of the World Health Organisation.
From the 1st January, 1967, the existing certificate of vaccination, which bears
on the front the words " For completion in the United Kingdom only " ceases to be
valid.
(See Statistical Tables 17,18 and 19.)
RESEARCH
Measles Vaccine Trials
The report of the Medical Research Council on the trial of measles vaccines
organised in 1964 and 1965 was received early in 1966. The trials showed that
immunisation against measles was an effective and acceptable procedure, but the
duration of protection will remain uncertain for some years and is the subject of
further study. In view of this, it was stated in Ministry of Health Circular 6/66,
that the Minister did not suggest that authorities generally should make arrangements
under Section 26 of the National Health Service Act to offer measles vaccination.
The Health Committee concurred and resolved that a further report be
submitted in due course.
Investigation of Reaction to Triple Vaccines (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
Council Health Department staff took part in an investigation organised by the
Medical Research Council to compare the degree of reaction to three brands of
triple antigen in common use.
The investigation revealed that the clinical results agreed very closely with
laboratory findings in that more reactions occurred in children who had been given
vaccine with a high bacterial count, and that methods of making the vaccine were
not important. The Medical Research Council reported that the clinical trial had
helped considerably towards producing a non-toxic pertussis vaccine.
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