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BOARD OF HEALTH SPECIAL MEETING OCTOBER 27, 1970 A s?ecial meeting of the Board of Health was held Tuesday, 0ctcber 27, 1970, at 8:00 P.M. in the Board cf Health Office. Members present were: Dr. William Cosgrove, Chairman, Mr. James Lambie, Dr. Charles Ellicott and Robert Heustis, Director of Public Health. The minutes of the October 1.3, 1970 meeting were approved as read. 367. Dr. Ellicott explained to the Board that the reason he had requested this meeting was to discuss with the Board and other physicians in Lexington the adviseability of continuing the GERMAN German Measles Immunization Program in view of an article MEASLES recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine con- PROGRAM cerning the effectiveness of this vaccine. Dr. Ellicott said he had contacted the pediatricians and the school physicians about this meeting, however, Dr. Mary Perry was the only physician able to attend the meeting. Dr. Howard Potter had sent a written statement to Dr. Ellicott prior to this meeting. Dr. Ellicott explained to the Board that Dr. David Singer after reading the article published in the New England Journal of Medicine called him and expressed concern regarding the German Measles Vaccine Inncculation Program for the children age 1 through Grade 6. He went on to say that in view of this article dealing with a study of a group of recruits from Hawaii at Fort Ord, California, he felt the Board should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this vaccine. He pointed out the disad- vantages of the vaccine and then the advantages, he then went en to say that as a physician he would not give this vaccine to his girls but from a public health stand point he felt the advantages out -weighed the disadvantages. If, as predicted, this was an epidemic year, we would be remiss in not giving the vaccine but if the vaccine was not as effective as first thought what about these children in 10 or 15 years. Dr. Ellicott went on to say this program is not designed to protect the children today, because basically German Measles is a mild disease in a child, but to protect the fetus of expectant mothers during the first tri-mester of pregnancy. Dr. Perry said she would support the program but she was con- cerned about the children innoculated now in 10 or 15 years when the ,girls came to child-bearing age. She went on th say Rubella was very serious to the mother in the first tri-mester of pregnancy. Mr. Lambie said, you would really recommend this program, don't you think if we do this easy we will have tine later to correct any misunderstanding about the vaccine, I mean as to the length of effectiveness. You say the vaccine at present would benefit the expectant mother this year. We would almost be remiss in our obligation if we did not take precautions now.