The Lincoln times., 1955-09-22

cine.
PHYSICIANS of the Lincoln Coun-
y Medical Society, at a call meet
ng on Tuesday night, acquainted
with the plans for dis
tribution Of the vaccine as far as
hey current plans have ad-
vanced.
A standard fee of $500 has been
set by Lincolnton doctors for each
of the Salk vaccine.
This is the nominal rate scale that
was set up some time ago by pri-
vate physicians of the Lincoln
Catawba Alexander health dis
trict.
VACCINE SAFE, EFFECTIVE
The US. Public Health & Ser
vice has after thorough research
and study ruled the Salk anti
polio vaccine safe and effective,
the LincOlnton physician pointed
out. The vaccine now in supply
here, he said, is the same used
for the free incubation clinics in
LincolntOn last April and May of
Lincoln county first and second
grade pupils. 1850 Lincoln
school children received the
shCts at the first clinic; 1882 at
the second clinic. To date, there
have been no reports of a single
polio case in Lincoln county this
spring and summer. The SaIk
vaccine used in the clinics here
last spring was contributed by
the National Foundation of In
fantile Paralysis.
Several days before Tuesdays
meeting of the local group, men,
bers Of the medical societies and
retail druggists of the Lincoln-Ca
taWba Alexander district met at
Hickory for a briefing on the Salk
vaccine supply and plans for COM
mercial use.
DR.. j. H. Fitzgerald stated that
on the recommendation of federal
aud state health departments and
the National Polio Foundation,
the vaccine will be administered
first to those groups most SuScept-
lille to the polio disease.
PRIORITY GROUPS
He listed the priority groups to
which the inoculations must be
given in this order:
First Group: Children in the 5
to 9 age group, and expectant
mothers.
Second Group: Children 0 up to
years of age.
Fourth Group: Children 9 to IA
years of age.
Fifth Group: Persons from IA to
20 years of age.
1t is not known at this time
when the Salk vaccine will be used
in sufficient quantity to meet de-
nands of the public, both from
physicians and the health depart
nentS. Dr. Fitzgerald reported that
as more information is available
and the supply distribution plans
take q more definite form, the
public will be advised.
Dr.. Benton V. D. Scott of New
ton. district health officer, reported
that under a Federal program,
which the last United States Con-
sress appropriated thirty million
dollars, 80 per cent of all Salk
vaccine produced by the various
manufacturers will be channeled
FOR use through the local health
through the country.
North Cardinals share of the
allocation is $1,257,8O7 which will
be used by the State Health De-
oartment to purchase vaccine to
DC distributed to the health de-
1artments in the state.
PLANS OUTLINED
The remaining seventy per
cent of all vaccine produced and
any portion of the thirty per
cent not needed by health de-
partments will be distributed
through retail drug channels for
purchase by physicians for their
private patients.
The North Carolina Pharmaceu-
tical association will notify local
retail drugstores in the state as to
the amount of vaccine that is
available and from which manu-
facturer it is to be purchased, DR..
Scott said this week
Free inoculations will be given
by the health department when
the vaccine becomes available, the
health director said
1t is understood that drugstoreS
viii not stock the Salk vaccine at
he present time. and the supply
hey receive will be turned over to
physicians.