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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-10-27 367 BOvnD OF KEAT TH dPECIAL MEETING OCTOBEF 27, 1970 A s ecial meeting of the Board of Health was held Tuesday, October 27, 1970, at a 00 P M in the Board or Health Office. Members present were Dr William C sgrove, Chairman, Mr. James Lambie, Dr Charles Ellicott and Robert Heustis Director of Public Health The minutes of the October 13, 1970 meeting were approved as read. 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 nublished in the New England Journal of Medicine con- Pg0GRAT, corning the effectiveness of this vaccine . Dr Fllic tt said he had contacted the pediatricians and the sch.Jol nhysirians about this meeting, however, Dr Mary Perry was the 'ply physician able to attend the me ting Dr Howard Potter hal sent a written statement to Dr `'ilicrtt prior to this meeting Dr Fllic -tt explained to the Bard that Dr David Singer after reading the article published in the New England Journal of Medicine called him and Vpressed concern regerLing the German Measles Vaccine Inneculation Program for the children age 1 thr ,ugh Grade E He went on to say that in view of this article dealing with a study of a group of -ecruits from Hawaii at Fort Ord , California , he felt the Board should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of this vaccine He pointed rut the disad- vantages of the vaccine and ther the advantages , he then went on 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 child-en in 10 -r 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 t - pr tett the fetus of expectant mothers during the first tri-mester f pregnancy Dr Perry said she would support the program but she was c n- cerned about the children innoculated now in 10 Dr 15 years when the girls came to child-bearing age ohe went m +-h say Fubolla was very serious tr the mother in the first tri-mester of pregnancy Mr Lambie said, you w_uld really recommend this program don ' t you think if we d.: th s eary we will have time later t: 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 le ligation if we did not take precauti_ns now 368 71r t .' )tto ' s st tement which o in _ut that thP vires r toe inniculateI gr up f recruits was " litd in the threat cultures and lymph glands , this would net necessarily mean that th T7irus w uld reach the fetus of a Pregrert 1, -man nreviusly v rcinat^ i with the vaccine Dr. Ellie ctt rent on to say Dr Potter feels these young- sters should be vacc rated end I suppose fr_m a public health standpoint this - 'uld be right , however, I feel in 2 or 3 years there will be more knowledge and better techniques I as an individual u;ill wait to have my girls done then Dr Cosgrove asked, y( u still feel the advantages cut weigh the disadvantages and even though y-u d _ not th )roughly approve of this program y u would still advise us to have it Mr iambie and I must rely on your authority on a program of this type loth Dr Perry and Dr Ellicott said they would favor going ahead with the program but they felt an article should be put in the I cal paper stating that ther- are advantages and disadvantages to the vaccine , also stressing in this article that this program is entirely v luntary. It was also suggested that the Medical Associnti' ns which recommended this program be listed in this article Dr Ellicott said he felt this pr 'gram should be dis- cussed with Dr. Fibert before the article is published Dr Perry said she had an app )intment with Dr Fobert on Thursday and she would discuss the program with him if the Board approved . The Beard thanked Dr Perry and said they would appreciate her help Mr Lambie asked if these children were not vaccinated and we did have this epidemic what would be the risk" Dr Ellicott said we know the wild virus hill give lasting immunity to a child which she will carry with her to her child- bearing years The risk of the wild virus to en expectant mother is great, this is the group we are trying to protect , hew many of the children would pass the wild virus on th their mothers we don ' t know but surely some would be affected Then again we get back to the vacconated child in their child-bearing years , if the vaccine isn ' t long lasting will they produce a group sf deformed children. Yet when you stop and g . further, would this vaccination program wipe out the disease , such as Polio s>alk Vaccine did in 1954-55, and yet within 10 years we had the 'abin vaccine We could say we have more or less wiped out Polio the same as we did smallpox, yet how many perple re-rew their small pox vaccine unless they are travelling. After further discussion it was agreed that from a public health viewpoint it was our responsibility ` . protect the new babies The clerk was instructed to prepare a statement for the newspaper this statement being approved by Dr Ellicott, Dr. Perry and Dro Fobert before publication 10; 09 The requ st "C.L n 1'0fn a llac roof easy' it ._ i. N A budzet was discussed by tho BL.ard Dr Cosgr ye not >o that et the present time -he cost per BUDGET 1971 visit to the Board of Health was runnirg about one-dollar lass than in previ us years ivisits haves leer asuu in the first nine-month period (.11J7177 Dr -Ellicott said he had attended the Board meting of the L J N A and they are having firancial difficulti :s They were running about 30" under n salaries and the alder nurses had never pushed for a raise As the alder nurses have left to take better pa,yi_ng positions in order to procure replacements , salaries had t , be raised Medicare has cut back on nursing services in- cluding the physiotherapy service mhe United Community Service has also cut their all wance t- the Lexinc?tor Jisiting Nurse All in all they are in financial difficulty. Dr . Ellie tt went :r to say that in order to remedy this they have raised their house visit fees but will ;till be about 00 to :3l 10 bel . . a true hard cost figure, they. are requesting emergency funds frim the United Funds and they are requesting a transfer of funds from the Tuwn of Lexington, Dr Cosgrove said he would rec 'mmend approving the =1000 increase He said the service performed by the L tT N A is still less expensiv than a public health nurse working f r the Health Department wher you considered office space, salary, car etc The Board agreed t.. increase the I J M A budget tL $5000 and request a transfer f 'unds f r 1970 .,,,1n00 The Beard discussed the letter from Mrs . Yard Melch Director of Mystic Jalley Mortal Health Ass elation and although the letter gave a good picture of what they plan to de in the future it lid pct have the infcrmati-'n requested by the Heard a'- the Octe er 13th meeting The clerk was instruct d tJ write to Mrs Welch and list the information required by the E -ard t justify the increase requested by the Mystic 7alle5 Mental Health Association from the Town The Board would like t know the amount paid in salaries for nr )fessi nal help , clerical h'ln and the cost Ter family f 'r a child attending The clinic The Health Derartm t Expense Budget was d sussed and approved . The Personal service Dudgot f ^ the Health Department was approved with recemm r.dati, rs as fell, ws Mr Heustis be re-classified to S-21-D from "-19-F Mary Smits be granted a step--'ate increase from 5-3-C tr ,-3-D although the position if Mrs Jones , '"leek- :tennirapher, will n -t be re-classified by the salary B and it was agreed that an increase weul : he requested for her Mr H ustis ren rt-ei that the Massachusetts Dental Society and the Massachusetts Citizens Committee f r Dental Health was sponsoring a me ting with MDC officials to talk n Flu )ri''ation at Jalle ' s Steak House _n 5 ute 9 N_vember 1h if the Bearo was in- terested in attending this meeting he would submi` the names to Mrs Steinhurst of the Mass citizens C mmitteo Dr Cescrnve and Mr, Lambie said they weu1d h able t •, attend this mee'-ing