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34
The investigation is still in progress and further reports will appear
later."
(c) B.C.G. Vaccination of School Children.
The scheme followed was fully described in the Report for
1954 and continued during the year under review.
Unfortunately it has been considered necessary by the Ministry
of Health to supply the vaccine through the Local Health Authority
at Chelmsford, instead of direct as previously, and on one occasion
special arrangements had to be hurriedly improvised to obtain an
alternative supply, since the regular supply had not arrived.
The Heaf multiple puncture apparatus has been used exclusively
for testing during 1955 and with complete success. It will also be
used for post-vaccinal tests.
All secondary schools have been visited during the year, and
of the 1,654 children invited 857 accepted, giving an acceptance rate
of 51.4 per cent. 1955 1954
Number of Heaf positive 109 145 (Mantoux test)
Percentage positive 13.0 18.6
Number of Heaf negative 740 635 (Mantoux test)
Number absent 8 45
B.C.G. given 728 630
Absent or not done 12 5
By arrangement with the Chest Physician all the Heaf positive
children were offered chest X-ray at the Chest Clinic. None of
those accepting was found to have active disease.
No complications, as defined in Section 18 of the Ministry of
Health Memo 324/BCG, have arisen, although many children have
been seen with small ulcers which are a normal concomitant of successful
vaccination. These children have been seen owing mainly
to parental apprehension, although a fully explanatory note is given
to each child vaccinated.
Arrangements have continued for family doctors to be notified
when children on their lists in this age group are Heaf positive or
have been vaccinated.

In addition to the above certain children were given both a
T. J. Patch Test and a Heaf Test. The following tables show
comparative findings.