The Miami Times

Negro Children Not Taking Free Polio Shots Health Department Claims

A bulletin from Dr. George M. Erickson, epidemiologist in the Dade County Health Department this week expressed deep concern over Negro children not taking advantage of the free Salk polio vaccine being offered at five different clinics throughout the city.

Excerpts from Dr. Erickson's bulletin, sent to all teachers in the county follows:

At the present time we are aware of a situation in our polio immunization program which reveals that comparatively few Negro children in the eligible age group are taking advantage of our available facilities for preventing paralytic polio.

All children between the ages of one year through nineteen are eligible for free polio immunization.

5 CLINICS AVAILABLE

Most children will probably be in a group that customarily use public health clinic facilities. Any who are in the eligible age group can receive their immunization at the clinic nearest their home or school. These are the clinics:

North County Health Center, 2745 N.W. 62nd St., Monday, 9 a.m. -12 noon.

Southwest Health Center, 5798 S.W. 68th st., Wednesday, 3-5 p.m.

Homestead Health Clinic, 49 West Mowery St., Tuesday, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Downtown Health Center. 1212 N.W. 1st Place. Friday. 2-4 p.m.

Health Department Clinic. 1401 N.W. 7th Avenue. Friday. 1-4 p.m.

Children should be accompanied to the clinic by a parent, whenever this is possible. If a child goes to the clinic unattended he should have a note from a parent requesting that he (or she) be immunized.

VACCINATED CHILDREN SHOULD GET THIRD SHOT

The school nurse can answer many of your questions about polio immunization. At present we have no plans for conducting a school immunization program- such as was carried on in April and June of 1955. The children who were vaccinated against polio at that time should now obtain their third shots (booster dose). They can get these at the clinics listed above.

It is our sincere hope that all parents will see to it that their children are immunized. Our facilities are in constant operation and we trust that you will make good use of them. We shall continue to give polio immunizations throughout the summer months.