vaccinators are retained for visiting hospitals to offer B.C.G. vaccination to new-born babies.
131. The B.C.G. figures since the beginning of the campaign are as follows:
Table 11
Tuberculin Text
Year
Completed
[1
Negative vaccinated
B.C.G. Vaccination
New-Harma vaccinated.
Grood rota viocinated
1952
176,728
38,173
3.120
41,293
1953
77,422
27,024
1.883
31,907
1954
32,620
L5.331
3,050
18,384
1955
20.606
15,775
9.587
25.362
1956
38,529
5,619
23.418
29,047
101.835
Taal,
404.899
11.038
145,89%
132. It will be seen that there has been a progressive fall in the number tuberculin tested and subsequently vaccinated, while the number of new-born babies vaccinated after 1954 bas risen rapidly. This has been a deliberate policy, in view of the high proportion of tuberculosis deaths occurring in infants and the need for protection at an age as early as possible. The present B.C.G. work is therefore divided into two parta which are considered separately.
183. B.C.G. vaccine strength 20 mgm./cc., prepared in individual doses for administration by multipuncture inocula- tion is made available free of charge at various distribution points in the urban and rural areas for the use of private practitioners and midwives for the vaccination of new-born babies. A circular letter was sent to all practitioners at the start of the scheme and all midwives have been trained in its uge. B.C.G. vaccination is now included as part of the routine training of midwives.
184. Although only a small number of births are conducted by private practitioners there is a small but constant demand for vaccine from this source.
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135. The majority of non-hospital births are conducted by registered midwives, either government or private. Of the total of 45,444 births conducted by midwives 5,349 babies were B.C.G. vaccinated, more than one half being done by government staff. This scheme is still in its early stages and the numbers were rising fairly rapidly towards the end of the year. It is antici- pated that the figure will be considerably greater next year.
136. Visits were made to all the principal hospitals with maternity wards twice a week in order to ensure that all mothers have the opportunity to have their babies vaccinated. Vaccina- tion je carried out on a voluntary basis. Out of a total of 41,898 births taking place in these hospitals, 18,069 or 43% were B.C.G. vaccinated.
137. For reasons that can be attributed only to changes in the vaccine the number of complications resulting from vaccina- tion has substantially dropped since this form of vaccination was first introduced, and is now in the region of four per thousand. It has been found that these complications can easily he controlled by the administration of INAH.
138. Thus, out of a total of 96,746 babies born in the Colony during the year, 24% were known to have been vaccinated against tuberculosis. The number vaccinated has been rising month by month, and higher figures can be confidently antici- pated next year.
139. Vaccination of individuals other than new-born babies is carried out by the classical intradermal route, using vaccine of a strength of 1 mgm/c.c. The tuberculin teat in use is the Mantoux test of 5 international tuberculin units of purified protein derivative obtained from Copenhagen in bulk. Vaccina- tion ia carried out as a routine measure in the chest clinics in connexion with tuberculosis contracts, in the School Health Service and in the Maternal and Child Health Service. A B.C.G. clinic is maintained by the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis Association on a full time basis. The total number of persons tuberculin teated by all these bodies for the year was 38,523 of which 5.629 were aubsequently vaccinated. This represents a very considerable drop in the totals as compared with previous years.
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