View report page

Vaccinal Condition of Hospital Staff
94
It is often stated that the abolition of compulsory vaccination
by the National Health Service Act, 1946, has had an adverse effect
on infant vaccination. The percentage of such vaccinations has
been summarised back to the year 1930 and the position is as
follows:—

The great value of vaccination before the age of one year
(say at four months) is less discomfort and less risk, and revaccination
performed in later life will have less discomfort and
less risk. The longer the period between vaccination and revaccination,
the greater the risk of a sore arm.
It must be remembered that to travel to certain foreign countries
an International Certificate is necessary stating that vaccination has
been performed within three years.
The most important reason, however, is that the only way
to offset the risk of repeated importation of smallpox from abroad
is by maintaining a well-vaccinated community. In these days of
air travel the risk can only be avoided by infant vaccination
followed by re-vaccination on entering and again on leaving school.
For members of the Armed Forces a routine is usually laid down,
e.g., re-vaccination at five-yearly intervals while on home service
and two-yearly intervals during the period of overseas service.
Doctors, nurses and public health inspectors likely to have to deal
at short notice with cases of smallpox should be regularly vaccinated,
and preferably annually.