VACCINATION CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 258, 28 September 1940, Page 6

VACCINATION CAMPAIGN.

(To the Editor.) . Sir, —I am most anxious to learn a few facts regarding the present vaccination campaign, and trust that you can refer these questions to the district medical officer. (1) Do the injections induce diphtheria in a , slight form. (2) If so, are not the children who have them a source of grave danger to those who do not have them? I am opposed to vaccination and my children are in classes in which the ‘majority of the children have had these ln j ec " tions. In one large class only halt a dozen children remain unvaccinated. I sincerely hope the medical officer can give an assurance that our children are in no danger. We mothers feel very strongly that a straightforward answer must be given us immediately. It is not fair to allow even healthy children to continue attendance at a school where they receive a daily barrage of diphtheria germs irom say 4o children in a crowded classroom. — etc " ' mother. Palmerston North, 26-9-40.

Dr. Duncan Cook, medical officer of Health, in commenting on this letter to-day, said that the Health Department would not advocate anything which was dangerous. Anti-dip'litheria vaccination was quite a safe procedure, which had already been carried out on 10,000 children.in New Zealand with no ill effect; and in fact with good effect in that the number of cases of diphtheria had been reduced. In answer to the questions, Dr. Cook said it was only the poison manufactured from the germ, and not the germ, which was injected; thus only the effect of diphtheria, and not the disease was produced. The children did not suffer even mild diphtheria and caused no danger to others. If any parents had any difficulties in connection with vaccination, Dr. Cook said he would be pleased if they would interview him on the matter.