Evening star., 1955-06-14
DR.. Seckinqer's Views

Remarks made in The Sun
day Star (June 12) have
prompted me- to clarity certain
misconceptions which have de-
veloped, as evidenced by i'm
plications in polio Snafu Has
BacklaSh Here"
Following the recommended
tions approved by the State
and Public Health Officers
Conference, the United States
Public Health Service. the
American Medical Association,
the American Academy Of Pc
diatrics, the National Founda-
ton for Infantile Paralysis. the
local medical societies and the
local chapter, American Acad-
emy of Pediatrics, I, as direc-
tor of public health, consulted
with community-wide repre-
sentatives of professional and
public groups and recon-
mended to the District Com
missioners that the director
participate in the 1855 polio
myelitis immunization pro-
gram.
There were no funds avail
able for purchase of Syringes
and needles for incubation for
an estimated 10000 children in
the first and second grades
when it was made known that
the National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis would make
available free vaccine for three
injections for this group. There
was still a big if-depending
upon the evaluation report by
DR.. Thomas Francis, jr.. and
licensing of the vaccine by the
National Institutes Of Health.
Thus, in a meeting attended
by representatives of the public
schools, the local medical So
cieties and the pediatric acad-
emy and the local chapter OF
the National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis, it was de-
cided that the Board of Com
misisoners be asked to approve
and that funds be requested
for that purpose. Representa-
tives of the District Chapter,
National Foundation for In
fantile Paralysis, agreed to
make the money available so
that an order could immedi-
ately be placed for the in
dividual syringes and needles
recommended by the local
physicians.
Further, it was not known
at the time of this request
that legislation was to be pro-
posed by the President OF the
United States. or the Congress.
to provide vaccine for all chill
dren up to 10 years OF age. ana
for pregnant women. To be
prepared to care for all chill
dren in the District who were
unable to afford inoculations
through private means. the
department requested an ap-
preparation for this specific
purpose Such national recog-
milton only supports the action
taken by this department.
It is the departments we'll
defined responsibility to ad-
minister immunization pro-
grams. For nearly fifty years
the law has required vaccina-
ton against smallpox as a
prerequisite to admission to
school. Diphtheria, whooping
cough and tetanus inocula-
tious have been routine for
the past several years-and
an accepted responsibility OF
the public health agency in
protection of the public health
to assure immunizations are
given All forward looking
health officers have acted sim
ilarly in the interest of pre-
venting disease, and especially
a disease like poliomyelitis.
Health officers of many States
have made similar recommen-
dations and, of course, re-
quested similar appropriations
from their State legislators.
1t is certain that none of these
health officers, charged with
the protection of the public
health of their respective
areas, would have made re-
quests for appropriations of
this nature if they had had
knowledge of the intent of the
Congress.
Could we have foreseen the
furor, the confusion and the
delays, those of US who jointly
planned the poliomyelitis pro-
gram in the District might
possibly have taken a different
approach. But. in any case,
our actions would be governed
by a sense of duty to the chill
dren of this community and
an intense interest for their
well-being.
Prevention Of disease is not
only the responsibility of the
Department of Public Health.
| the medical. dental and allied