View report page

41
Smallpox The picture in respect of infant smallpox protection is
Vaccination very much different. Only 28.9% of those infants eligible to
receive protection (i.e. those born in 1964) did so. The acceptance
rate for smallpox vaccination has never been high in
the past two decades, but it has fallen even more in the past
few years. This is a direct result of the Ministry's (wise)
advice to delay vaccination until the child is at least one
year old, to reduce the incidence of the complications which
are statistically higher during the first year of life. By the
time the child is a year old many mothers have stopped attending
infant welfare centres and can only be reached by visiting.
Also the impression still persists that smallpox vaccination
leaves a large disfiguring scar; in fact the smallpox vaccination
practised nowadays, when properly performed, leaves only
a small scar. This is a case for intensive health education,
which goes on daily.
Vaccination against tuberculosis is described in that part
of the report which deals with the School Health Service.
SECTION 28
PREVENTION, CARE AND AFTER CARE
including Health Education
Convalescent Treatment
Provision of Sickroom Equipment
Chiropody
Tuberculosis
Health Education
Every member of the staff of the Health and Welfare Department
both fieldworkers and administrative staff should be
concerned in some way, however small, with health education.
It has been our aim to inculcate this idea into staff throughout
the year.
Many members of the staff make very valuable contributions
to health education, but it has been thought for some time
that there should be a central point of reference in the department
to co-ordinate efforts and to give fresh impetus. Accordingly,
a Health Education Officer was appointed in July.
Miss K. M. E. Griffiths, Health Education Officer, reports
as follows:-