VACCINATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13277, 17 January 1911, Page 4

VACCINATION.

The detention of a steamer in quarantine in New Zealand waters, on account of a case, of suspected smallpox i.as drawn attention to the question of vaccination, which appears to be now less in vogue than at pny previous, time in New -Zealand. So far as Auckland is concerned—and the N.Z. Herald suggests that these remarks will doubtless, apply to other districts in New Zealand—the vaccination of children now appears to be the exception rather than the rule. The applications for exemption from vaccination on conscientious grounds are.very numerous, and a Justice of the Peace, informed a Herald reporter that he was very frequently called upon to witness the declarations; required in connection with these applications. The law requires that such exemption should always lie applied for if vaccination is objected to, but a great many parents take no action whatever. It is scarcely necessary to remind them that they are thereby rendering themselves .liable to the penalties provided by law. A medical man, who was asked tor his oninion on. the subject, said that whilst the danger of an outbreak of smallpox, however remote, had to be guarded against, there would, in all probability be a sufficient warning of an outbreak to enable the unvaccinated portion of the community to be vaccinated. Another doctor said that whilst he .would certainly advise an unvaccinated person going abroad, even to Eustralia, to undergo vaccination, he did not think there was any danger in remaining unvaocinated in the Dominion. Another gentleman, who takes considerable interest in the subject, expressed a, different view. The position at present, he said, was that we now had practically an entire population unprotected against smallpox. The situation in this respect did not improve as time went on, and continued immunity from the peril constantly present in other countries appeared to encourage in New' Zealand indifference to the risks.that the population as a-whole were running. With a steamer actually .in quarantine in Auckland Harboup, the danger of an epidemic was not so remote as the careless would: appear to think.