Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-29
Crisis Looms
If More Fluid
Doesn't Arrive
BY CHARLES G. BROOKS

for children from one through
nine has been slowed by the lin
tied vaccine supply here. but II
will finish its current series OF
shots to kindergarten and first
grade children this week.
AS of last Wednesday. l0.07e
children received shots under the
January program which began
on the goth. 1t was scheduled to
include nearly $4,000 between the
goth and last Thursday.
Beginning tomorrow. a week
long makeup series will be
started to give Salk vaccine shots
to children who were absent last
week.
Generally, this win mean chill
dren in first grades and kinder
gartens, who haven't received
second shots and who were alb
sent, will get them on the same
days this week as scheduled fol
last week.
More Vaccine Expected
A new supply is predicted TO,
the Health Department this
week, but If it fails to materializt
there will not be a cubic cent?.
meter of the fluid left. depart
ment sources said yesterday.
Because of the acute vaccine
shortage here-as in other parts
Of the Nation-parents continu-
ally call the Health Department
begging for the answer: When
can Johnny have his hocula-
tion?"
This occurs every time report:
appear indicating an increase
in the supply of the vaccine
But, nobody at the Districts
Health Department has the an
swer.
$4,000 Eligible
DR.. Daniel Seckinger. director
If Public Health, says there are
about 10000 children in the
eligible age group of from / to
10 years.
The District. as shown, has
received a grand total Of about
76,500 cubic centimeters of vac
cine.
To give each child the full
recommended series Of three
shots, it would take a total allo-
cation Of 500, 900 CO.'S Of vaccine.
A special national advisory
committee long ago recon-
mended that each child be given
a second shot, four to six weeks
after the first. Seven months or
more, it said, should elapse be-
fore the third shot.
So far. nobody is getting the
third shot.
DR.. Seckinger says his depart
ment plans to follow the COM
mittee's recommendations as far
as is possible, although he real
ICES q good deal of immunization
can be derived from the two
shot series.
Still. the two-shot series would
require $4,000 CO.'S for the Dis
trict.
After this weeks makeup pro.
gram. some Al 900 children will
have been given their first injec-
tons by the Health Department
in the National Foundation and
Federal aid programs, with ap-
proximately 27,900 having re-
ceived their second shots.
Private NEGOTIATIONS
1t is estimated that private
physicians have given some 3d.
600 CO.'S in first shots plus 1850
eos in second shots. According
to the estimates the supply oil
vaccine for private physicians Ii
just as bad as for the Health
Department.
Early this month Basil O'Con.
nor, president Of the Nationa
Foundation for Infantile Paraly.
sis, declared that there may b,
enough Salk vaccine to inoculat,
children up to IA years Of ag,
this year.
Another report. several day
before. indicated SIS per cent O
the Salk vaccine shipped to pri
vate physicians and health de
partments remained unuse
However, Surgeon General Leon
ard Scheele said. health depart
ments must have adequate sup
plies on hand before they star
to schedule and publicize mas
programs.
Keeps Phones Busy
This type of reports, our health
department says, keeps 1t
switchboard lights Pickering.
The development and admin
istration of the polio vaccine ha
been unusual because of tn
heated public interest.
Last spring the National Foun
dation-after pilot studies which
included Fairfax County-aIlo
Gated some $4,000 CO.'S OF vac
cine to the District.
About 20, 100 children here wer
given shots last April. Then tn
vaccine was recalled and tn
entire program was thrown int
confusion.
But. the difficulties gradually
became ironed out and last Sep.
TENDER saw some $4,000 Distric
children receive their secont
shots through the Health De
partment.
The vaccine manufacturer
had accepted United States Gov
eminent standards. The Ma
tional Institutes of Health ha
been testing each batch eve
since. Now. the Government i
in charge Of allocating the vac
cine: no longer the Nationa
Foundation. which pioneered
successfully.
Originally. it was agreed tina
the supply here would be divide,
$3.50 between the Health De