HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-10-27BOARD 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.
368
Dr. Ellicott y..forred t. D. .ot,ter,s stnter]ent which
p._tr:t
d cut that the virus "". the innOcul-3t=�� group of recruits
_ru
was fourd in the throat cultures and lymph glands, this would
not necessarily mean that the virus would reach the fetus of a
pregnant woman previously vaccinated with the vaccine.
Dr. Ellicott went on to say Dr. Potter feels these young-
sters should be vaccinated, and. I suppose from a public health
standpoint this could be right, however, l feel in 2 or 3 years
there will be more knowledge and better techniques. I as an
individual will wait to have my girls done then.
Dr. Cosgrove asked, you still feel the advantages out
weigh the disadvantages and eventhough you do not thoroughly
approve of this program you would still advise us to have it.
Mr.
Lambie and I must rely on your authority on a program of
this type.
Both Dr. Perry and Dr. Ellicott said they would favor going
ahead with the program but they felt an article should be put in
the l=ocal paper stating that there are advantages and disadvantages
to the vaccine, also stressing in this article that this program
is entirely voluntary. It was also suggested that the Medi'eal
Associations which recommended this program be listed in this
article. Dr. Ellicott said he felt this program should be dis-
cussed with Dr. Fobert before thearticle is published.
Dr. Perry said she had an appointment with Dr. Fobert on
Thursday and she would discuss the program with him if the Board
approved.
The Board thanked Dr. Perry and said they would appreciate
her help.
Mr. Lam^ie asked if these children were not vaccinated and
we did have this epidemic what would be the risk?
Dr. Ellicottsaid we know the wild virus will 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, how 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 lona lasting will they produce a group cf deformed children.
Yet when you stop and go further, would this vaccination program
wipe out the disease, such as Polio Salk Vaccine did in 1954-55,
and yet within 10 years we had the Sabin vaccine. We could say
we have more or less wiped nut Polio the same as we did smallpox,
yet how many people re -new their small pox vaccine unless they
are travelling.
After further discussion it was agreed that from a public
health viewpoint it was Jur responsibility to 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,
369
The request for a $1000. dollar increase 4r1 L.V.N.A.
.N.A.
budget was discussed by the Board.
Dr. Cosgrove not=gid that et the present time the cost per BUDGET 1971
visit tc the Board of Health was rurning about one -dollar lass
than in previous years. Nursing visits have incr,ascd in the
first nine-month period cf 1970.
Dr. Ellicott said he had attended the Board meeting cf the
L.V.N.A. and they are having financial difficulties. They were
running about 30' under en salaries and the older nurses had
never pushed for a raise. As the older nurses have left to take
better paying positions in order to procure replacements, salaries
had tc be raised. Medicare has cut back en nursing services in-
cluding the physiotherapy service. The United Community Service
has also cut their allowance to the Lexington Visiting Nurse.
Ali in all they are in financial difficulty.
Dr. Ellicott went or to say that in order to remedy this
they have raised their house visit fees but will still be about
p1.0C tc S1.10 below a true hard cost figure, they are requesting
emergency funds from the United Funds and they ire requesting a
transfer of funds from the Town of Lexington.
Dr. Cosgrove said he would recommend approving the S1000.
increase. He said the service performed by the L.V.N.A. is still
less expensive, than a public health nurse working for the Health
Department when you considered office space, salary, car, etc..
The Board agreed to increase the L.V.N.A. budget to $5000.
and request a transfer of funds for 1970 of 1000.
The Board discussed the letter from Mrs. Mar;; Welch, Director
of Mystic Valley Mortal Health Association and although the letter
save a good picture of what they plan to do in the future it did
not have the information requested by the 3oard a', the October 13th
meeting.
The Clerk was instructed to write to Mrs. Welch and list the
information required by the Board to justify the increase requested
by the Mystic Valley Mental Health Association from the Town. The
Board would like to know the amount paid in salaries for professional
help, clerical help and the cost per family for a child attending
the clinic.
The Health Department Expense Budget was discussed and approved.
The Personal Service 3uJ et for the Health Department was approved
with recomm,ndations as follows: Mr. Heustis be re-classified to
S -21-D from S -19-F; Mery Smith be granted a step -rate increase from
S -3-C to S -3-D: although the position cf Mrs. Jones, Clerk -Stenographer,
will not be re-classified by the Salary Board it was agreed that an
increase would be requested for her.
Mr. Heustis reported that the Massachusetts Dental Society
an: -1 the Massachusetts Citizens Committee for Dental Health was
sponsoring a meeting with MDC officials to talk on Fluoridation at
Valles Steak House on Route 9, November 16 if the Board was in-
terested in attending this meeting; he would submit the names to Mrs.
Steinhurst of the Less Citizens Ccmmitteo Dr. Cosgrove and Mr,
Lambie said they would be ,able to attend this meeting