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Story
April 11, 1955
The Lincoln Times
Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
In 1955, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis detailed plans to distribute the Salk polio vaccine to 9 million U.S. school children if field trials prove effective, targeting April approval and pre-season administration via state health departments.
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Facts About '55 Polio Vaccine Plans
(Ed. Note. The following is timely information on the Salk polio vaccine plans as released by the National Foundation For Infantile Paralysis:)
TARGET DATE April, 1955
This is the month when the evaluation report on the Salk polio vaccine will be issued by the Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center directed by Dr. Thomas Francis Jr. at the University of Michigan. Carefully checked records of 1,830,000 school children who participated in the nationwide field trial sponsored by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis last year will show if the vaccinated children escaped paralytic polio attack.
WHAT THEN? If it works and is licensed by the Federal Government, the vaccine will be offered immediately to about 9,000,000 school children throughout the nation before the polio season begins. The National Foundation has contracted for enough vaccine for this purpose. It will be supplied to State Health Departments without charge for the product. State and local health officials will administer the program, which will be one of the largest public health projects ever undertaken in this country. Manufacturers will make available additional supplies of vaccine for purchase, to be given by physicians to others. Of course, if the vaccine is not licensed, it will not be used.
WHO WILL GET IT? Children in test groups who did not receive vaccine in last year's field trials and all children in the first and second grade of public, private and parochial schools in the United States, Alaska and Hawaii, will receive vaccine, if it is licensed and their parents request it. These children were selected because of high polio incidence in their age group, and because of their accessibility at schools. Vaccine clinics will be set up in schools in most areas, but arrangements will depend on state and local situations. Since three shots are required over a five-week period, the time element underscores the need for early planning.
WHO WILL GIVE IT? Health officials in cooperation with the local medical profession will be in charge of the vaccine program in each community.
WHAT NOW? All communities must make ready for this vaccine program now if we are to protect as many children as possible before the polio season begins. Plans must be drawn, understood and publicly accepted before we know whether the vaccine works. It takes from two to four months to manufacture and distribute vaccine. Only by being ready to go ahead if the green light flashes, can we hope to move swiftly into action. This projected vaccine program will not be another test. It will be the first use of a newly established preventive measure.
WILL VOLUNTEERS BE NEEDED? In most areas volunteers recruited by your National Foundation Chapter will be welcome and needed to do a wide variety of jobs depending upon the local situation. Health and school authorities may require assistance in conducting community information programs, distributing educational leaflets, keeping records, providing transportation for personnel and supplies, and aiding in handling the children in the clinics.
WHERE CAN VOLUNTEERS APPLY? Ask your local Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, if you wish to help.
(Ed. Note. The following is timely information on the Salk polio vaccine plans as released by the National Foundation For Infantile Paralysis:)
TARGET DATE April, 1955
This is the month when the evaluation report on the Salk polio vaccine will be issued by the Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center directed by Dr. Thomas Francis Jr. at the University of Michigan. Carefully checked records of 1,830,000 school children who participated in the nationwide field trial sponsored by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis last year will show if the vaccinated children escaped paralytic polio attack.
WHAT THEN? If it works and is licensed by the Federal Government, the vaccine will be offered immediately to about 9,000,000 school children throughout the nation before the polio season begins. The National Foundation has contracted for enough vaccine for this purpose. It will be supplied to State Health Departments without charge for the product. State and local health officials will administer the program, which will be one of the largest public health projects ever undertaken in this country. Manufacturers will make available additional supplies of vaccine for purchase, to be given by physicians to others. Of course, if the vaccine is not licensed, it will not be used.
WHO WILL GET IT? Children in test groups who did not receive vaccine in last year's field trials and all children in the first and second grade of public, private and parochial schools in the United States, Alaska and Hawaii, will receive vaccine, if it is licensed and their parents request it. These children were selected because of high polio incidence in their age group, and because of their accessibility at schools. Vaccine clinics will be set up in schools in most areas, but arrangements will depend on state and local situations. Since three shots are required over a five-week period, the time element underscores the need for early planning.
WHO WILL GIVE IT? Health officials in cooperation with the local medical profession will be in charge of the vaccine program in each community.
WHAT NOW? All communities must make ready for this vaccine program now if we are to protect as many children as possible before the polio season begins. Plans must be drawn, understood and publicly accepted before we know whether the vaccine works. It takes from two to four months to manufacture and distribute vaccine. Only by being ready to go ahead if the green light flashes, can we hope to move swiftly into action. This projected vaccine program will not be another test. It will be the first use of a newly established preventive measure.
WILL VOLUNTEERS BE NEEDED? In most areas volunteers recruited by your National Foundation Chapter will be welcome and needed to do a wide variety of jobs depending upon the local situation. Health and school authorities may require assistance in conducting community information programs, distributing educational leaflets, keeping records, providing transportation for personnel and supplies, and aiding in handling the children in the clinics.
WHERE CAN VOLUNTEERS APPLY? Ask your local Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, if you wish to help.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Triumph
Recovery
What keywords are associated?
Polio Vaccine
Salk Vaccine
Field Trial
National Foundation
School Children
Public Health Program
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Thomas Francis Jr.
Where did it happen?
United States, Alaska, Hawaii
Story Details
Key Persons
Dr. Thomas Francis Jr.
Location
United States, Alaska, Hawaii
Event Date
April 1955
Story Details
The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis outlines plans for distributing the Salk polio vaccine to 9 million school children if approved in April 1955, following successful field trials on 1.83 million children in 1954. Vaccine to be provided free to state health departments for first and second graders, with additional supplies available for purchase.