T.B. VACCINATION

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 163, 11 March 1955, Page 1

T.B. VACCINATION

Post-Primary Scholars Vaccination of post-primary school pupils in the Taupo district will be uiidertaken during the lirst and second school terms. Consent forms will be distributed to the schools with i n the ensuing liionth. It is possible that the public are not yet fully infoiun'ed about this weapon that has been successfully used in tlie light against tuberculosis. It is only given to those people who ha'\'(^ never heen in any way im f(H:ted with tlie gernis of tuberculosis and who, if infccted, would havo a low resistanee to tlie disease. In order to discover tlie state of resistanee of an indi vidual a pre-vaceinai test is done. This is known as the tuberculiii test and a positive reaction nieaiis eitlier tlie indi vidual has tlie disease or, more likely, that: at some time or otlier he has had a sinai l infection which has healed and thereby conferrcd on hini an iiunuinity. This is the aini of the ll.h.O. vaccination — to confer an :inimunity by using a harnjless niateriah In order to ensure tliat there is no active disease present in positive reactors to the test, an X-ray examination is arranged. Only negative reactors require the protection of B.O.G. The letters B.C.G. which give tlie" vaccine its name, mean Bacillus Calmette Guerin, the names of the two Frenchmen who did the original work in developing the vaccine. To produce immunity a tiny amount of the material is introduced into tlie skin. After some time a sinall red pimple makes its appearance which will discharge for four to six weeks, leaving ultimately a small white healed area. General reactions are very rare but an occasional person may liave a constitulional upset. As children grow up they are more likely to come into contact with 1uIxM'cuIosis and to gct a d>so >f infcc(imi in. thc lccnagc may lcad t«» dcvelopmeiit oi' active disease, whei'cas with tliat amount of protection given by B.C.G. they are better equipped to ward off the infection. • B.C.G. is quite safe and is being used extensively in otlier couotrics in an effort to stamp out tuberculosis. ],ast year B-C.G. vaccination was offercd to all pupils of post-primary schools in district and also to some Maori schools. In 1954 39.10 pupils wore vaccinated as compared with 2219 in 1953. All newcomers to ihese schools will liave a similar opportunity this year. It is possible that parents whose children missed liaving tlie treatment last year may wish Ihciu \o ha.ve it now. If so, it will bo ncccssary for them to obtaiu a consent form which should be signecl by the nareiit' in ear'h casc and tiiesc iorms w;ll hc disvribuO.M'! from th.e schools. Forms should be compieted and returneci without clelay to the lieaclteacher.