Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-16
Start Of Polio
Shots Delayed
In Maryland
Decision Based on
Uncertainty When
Vaccine Will Arrive

The State Of Maryland, in
GLIDING the Counties Of Prince
Georges and Montgomery, has
called of the start Of its polio
vaccination program originally
set for this Monday.
DR.. Edward Davens. chief Of
the State Health Departments
Bureau of Preventive Medicine,
described the postponement as
Temporary" He made the de-
cision, he explained today. be-
cause his department has been
unable to get definite word as
to when the shipments Of vac
cine would arrive.
"It seems" DR.. Davens said.
"fairer to all the thousands con-
cerned to await definite word
on the date of delivery before
putting into motion the ex-
tremely complicated process Of
scheduling the vaccination
clinics.
"In any case, 1t is fortunate
that the two-dose series instead
of three doses, allows plenty Of
time to complete the job before
the schools close"
Suggested by DR.. Salk
The two-shot plan was adopted
after the Polio Foundation sec
onded the suggestion of Or.
Jonas Salk, vaccine developer,
that the third shot be given
some seven months after the
second.
Virginia has also postponed its
program a week, and the free
incubation of first and second
graders in all schools is expected
to begin April IS. The District
will start one day later, on Tues
day.
Some explanation of the delay
was furnished last night by the
Polio Foundation. officials of
the organization said rnanufac-
turers of the vaccine had been
instructed to send initial sup
plies of the vaccine to Southern
States.
The reason given was that the
polio season arrives earlier there
than in the northern portions of
the United States. Peak of the
polio season. at least in the past,
has been felt in the Washington
area toward the end of August
and the early part Of September.
Shipment for South =
Eli Lilly. one Of six pharma-
ceutical houses manufacturing
the vaccine, said last night it was
shipping to 10 Southern States
enough vaccine for Q million
children in the school program.
Parke Davis, another manufac-
turer. said its first shipments
would go out today.
Meanwhile, additional prob
lens in the vaccination program
rose in Maryland. These stemmed
from a second decision of the
foundation to supply only 80 per
cent of the vaccine to the States
first and second graders.
The move was met with a chal-
lenge from the State Department
Of Health strongly protesting"
the foundation decision. Health
officials said demands anticipated
exceed 80 per cent of the first
and second grade population in
the State.
The foundations answer was
that the 10 per cent leeway takes
into account absentees from
school when the vaccine is given
and those children whose parents
refuse the incubation.
Don't Want Surplus
''We don't want any unused
vaccine kicking around" DR..
Hart Van Ripper. medical director
Of the foundation, said.
The foundation was also being
criticized in some quarters for
Its stand to supply only two shots
of the vaccine.
In Richmond, medical officials
accused the foundation Of
WEIGHING" on its promise to fur
nish three shots. DR.. Edward M.
Holmes. jr., city health director.
said the action was "reprehensi-
BILE and arbitrary"
The foundations decision did,
nevertheless. release enough vac
cine for an additional 4 million
children who would not have re-
ceived the vaccine under original
incubation plans. They would
be getting it at the hands Of
private physicians.
In Maryland, one additional
See VACCINE, Page AS