INOCULATION PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 10

INOCULATION PLAN

DIPHTHERIA IN SCHOOLS With the object of immunising all pupils from diphtheria infection the Health Department will shortly inaugurate in inoculation scheme in Taranaki schools. Dr. F. W. W. Dawson, medical officer of health for Taranaki, said yesterday that arrangements were at present being made for the inoculation of pre-school children and school entrants, and any others who desired to be treated. A scheme of periodic inspections had been in opera tion in the province for almost two years, but it did not provide opportunities for such a full and elaborate inspection as given by the new scheme. It is understood that the arrangements are almost completed, and once the position of a school medical officer is filled the scheme will be ready to put into operation. The arrangements for the successful working of the plan will be made through the ordinary school clinics, and once they are opened, through pre-school clinics. Under the new system the scheme provides for three inoculations spread over a suitable period. There • is no question of fear of an epidemic, the action being rather in the nature of a routine preventive measure in a general scheme to immunise young children against the disease. Young children are far more likely to be affected with diphtheria and to suffer from it more severely than anyone else. The department proposes therefore to concentrate on those just entering school and on those of pre-school age. In a few years it is hoped to immunise rJinost all the young children in the Dominion. Inoculations are to be carried out at each school when a sufficient number of parents have signified their consent. No fees are to be charged. At Auckland Dr. Hubert Smith, medical officer of health, said recently that the department had begun circularising parents of young children at certain schools, asking if they would consent to the children being inoculated. Dr. Smith stated that a start had already been made with distributing the circulars m the city, and added that it was eventually proposed to approach parents of children at all schools throughout the Dominion with this request.