Milford chronicle., 1954-11-05
Gripping Blow
Planned On Polio

The American people viii Be
asked to help deliver a Knockout
blow against the chiId-crippling
disease Of polio next January it was
disclosed today by Ralph S. Baker.
chairman Of Sussex County Polio
Chapter.
The konckout blow will be ia the
form Of 9,000,00O doses Of the Salk
polio vaccine, production Of which
will be begun at once and paid for
by March of Dimes funds, Mr.. Baker
said.
Producing thei vaccine at this
time is a calculated financial risk,
Mr.. Baker added, since it has not
yet been proven that it is effective
in protecting against polio. Evalu-
alton Of the Vaccine's use in the
mass innOculatiOn Of csc. 900 Ameri-
can children last spring is now
underway and is expected to be
completed BY the spring Of 1855.
However, Mr.. Baker said, it would
be unthinkable to have a proven
vaccine yet not have it in suficient
quantity to use before the 1855
polio season.
Thus the calculated financial
risk is taken for the benefit Of
thousands of American children
who otherwise might be stricken
by polio in the coming year" Mr..
Baker said.
Information on the vaccine and
It's possible uses was obtained at
a tWo-day session of more than 200
March of Dimes workers at Wash
ingtOn, y. c., in which Mr.. Baker
participated
Principal speakers at the meeting
were Joseph +. Nee, National March
.of Dimes director and DR.. Herbert
2. Wagner of the medical stan OF
the National Foundation for Infan-
tile Paralysis.
Nee pointed out that in addition
to funds spent on the vaccine, which
will amount to about $9,000.O0O the
March Of Dimes still has the task
Of furnishing medical care for more
than $4,000 long term polio pa
tients.
In addition, medical aid and post
hospital care must be furnished
thousands of patients stricken in
this years polio season.
The vaccine if proven effective
will be given to all Of the children
who participated in the vaccine field
trials last year. who did not get
1t at the time, DR.. Wagner said.
He explained that in some states
half the children in the first. second
and third grades were given vaccine
and the other half an innocuOus
substance so that the course OF
polio in the vaccine and nom vac
cine groups could be readily traced.
In other states all second graders
received the vaccine while FIRST and
third graders received nothing. IN
these states polio incidence among
the second graders as cOntrasted
with the incidence among first and
third graders was used TO determine
the vaccine's effectiveness.
In addition the vaccine, il proven,
will be given to all first grade chill
dren in the nation and to all preg-
nant women, he said.
Details Of how the vaccine will be
distributed and administered have
not yet been worked out. he said.
Discussions on this with medical
and public health authorities are
now going on.
Mr. Baker further reports that
there have been IL new polio cases
in Sussex County this year which
will require considerable financial
support from the Chapter. In addi-
ton to this the Sussex County Polio
Chapter has been required to assist
IL old cases which are now receiv-
ing treatment for after effects.
Thus far this year on both old and
new cases the chapter has expended
$7.l00.00, and many of the bills for
the new cases have not yet arrived.
The organization for the March of
Dimes drive in January is rapidly
being completed Community chair
man have been selected in the
following communities. They are as
follows: Bridgeville. Henry p. Cam
non, IL; Harbeson, Edith Barker:
Lewes, Rebecca L. Palmer Mills
boro, Vollie Gray; Milton, William
B. Wagamon, Jr.; Seaford, Mark