Evening star., 1954-04-25
FdRi4R|@Rk EsSsEdhies
Polio Vaccine
Tests on 1896
Approval Looked for
Todoy;; InocuIqtions
Planned Tomorrow

vaccine tomorrow as soon as the
final word of approval comes
from officials of the National
Foundation for Infantile Paraly-
sis meeting in Washington.
The authorization to begin the
largest Nationwide scientific
test ever attempted is expected
in Washington today and Fair
fax is ready to be the first to get
started.
Ten thousand hypodermic
needles. hundreds of syringes,
skin antiseptic and applicators
already have been sent to Fair
fax by the polio foundation,
which is sponsoring the new vac
cine tests. The vaccine is being
brought to the county health de-
partment today from Richmond
by John Yates. of NIP.
First to Give Mass Tests.
Fairfax County is to be the
first community in the country
to start the mass tests. A pilot
Of the new vaccine was confined
to the Pittsburgh area. DR..
Harold Kennedy. county health
officer, went ahead with arrange
ments for the tests from the
first day it was announced that
Fairfax was eligible to partici-
pate.
Top polio officials, including
the developer of the vaccine,
DR.. Jonas Salk. met yesterday
and were to continue to meet
today at the Hotel Statler in a
final evaluation Of the vaccine.
According to officials of the
Polio Foundation, the go-ahead
is expected to be flashed on the
tests this afternoon and some
ITS counties across the Nation
will launch vaccination programs
by tomorrow or later In the
week.
The chief topic Of discussion
is an evaluation of the recently
completed Pittsburgh test. The
method and testing of the manu-
factured batch of vaccine which
has been shipped to areas Sc
lected for the test were also
reviewed.
Tests Begin at Franklin Sherman
The first incubation clinic will
get under way at 8 am. tomor.
row at the Franklin-Sherman
Elementary School in Mclean.
DR.. Richard j. Mulvaney of Nc
Lean is assigned to give the
injections there. Thirty-eight
Fairfax County physicians have
volunteered their services, and
will take turns at the clinics.
Besides physician, the inocu-
lating teams will include q pub
lie health nurse from the county
health department, a private
nurse recruited from the county's
civilian defense rolls, and a
statiStician from the NIP. It
is planned to inoculate so chill
dren an hour.
Eighty-two Franklin-Sherman
second graders. seven from Fe-
licity School, 10 from Langley
School and five from Thompson's
Nursery, are scheduled to re-
ceive the injections at the first
clinic.
The children participating are
to report to their classrooms.
and will be directed to the au-
ditorium where the injections
are to be given. All children
who are participating have had
permission fogrns signed by
their parents.
Three InOculati0ns Planned.
Each child is to receive three
shots. The second will be given
a week after the first. and tho
third will be given four weeks
thereafter.
DR.. Kennedy warned parents
that their children would be
dropped from the test if they
miss the first shot. Makeup
clinics will be arranged, how
ever, for children who receive
the first shot and cannot be
present for the second or third
shots.
First and third graders also
are to participate, although they
will receive no injections. Their
names and other vital statistics
will be recorded to compare the
incidence of polio among those
who were not injected with those
who were.
| Two per cent of first, second
and third graders are to be
picked for blood-tests. This is
being done because some chill
dren have mild cases Of polio
without knowing it and build
up an immunity against the
disease. The blood tests detect
whether the children have had
polio. Two first graders, two
second graders and one third
grader at Franklin Sherman
will be picked for the blood
tests. which will be given both
before and after the incubation
program.
incubation clinics are to be
held in two other Fairfax schools
tomorrow. They are scheduled
at 1890 pm. at Floris Ele.
mentary and Oak Grove Ele-
mentary. Twenty-Five are to be
inoculated at Floris, and IL at
Oak Grove.
Other clinics for the first shots
will be held Tuesday through
Friday.