The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-08-31
POLIO VACCINE
DISCUSSED BY
HEALTH OFFICER
By DIR, w. w. JOHNSTON
District Health Officer For
Currituck- Dare-Hyde

10 IIlS 1dCC CHaC TWO CnlruS Oh LIE
eligible susceptibles in North Car
Dina had not been immunized
against poliomyelitis and with the
peak season rapidly approaching
the situation was considered med
ical emergency. considered opin-
ion of the President, DR.. Donal B.
Koonce, and the committee on
emergency poliomyelitis VAGINA
ton program.) The decision was
made to do something about it.
Many vaccination clinics were
set up throughout the state, all
doctors were contacted and urged
to step up their polio vaccination
programs, and, of course, all health
departments were willing to coop
crate in an intensive program of
getting two doses of polio vaccine
into the arms of as many eligibles
as possible, as quickly as possible.
1t is true that the Salk polio
vaccine for the prevention of par
alytic poliomyelitis is in it's first
year of general use, but all evil
dence points to a wonderful tri-
umph over this dreaded disease.
The reports show that the number
of cases in the United States, up
to July, was 1890 lower than in
the comparable period of 1866.
1t is noteworthy that in only
two states in the south and south
west, where the seasonal rise nor
mally occurs earlier than in the
north, is the number of cases above
that of a year ago. Everywhere in
the country, California and Illi..
nois are the only states to have
experienced a serious rise thus far
in 1856; in Illinois the increase has
been due to the outbreak in Chi
cago. l do not have the figures but
a large percentage of the Chicago
cases were among children who
had not received the vaccine.
The annual total of poliomyelit-
is cases in our country has de-
creased since the peak year 1852
In view of these facts and other
evidence of the value of the Salk
Polio vaccine, your district Health
officer for the Currituck-Dare-
Hyde Health District urges the
parents, guardians or others in
charge of children through 10
years of age to have them receive
at least two doses of the Salk
poliomyelitis vaccine at once-the
dose two weeks apart during this
emergency period; also all expect
ant mothers. The third dose may
be given seven to nine months aft
err the second. There is plenty of
the vaccine available for all eligi-
bles from private physicians, the
special polio clinics and at all
health departments.
For those who are interested, we
give below the following informa-
ton by county concerning those
who have received the Salk polio
vaccine in the Currituck- Dare
Hyde Health District, in groups
showing whether first, second or
third doses.
Currituck County: Through June
1956-First dose: 872, second dose:
600; third dose: ID.
Dare County: through August
II, 1956-frst dose: $40. second
dose: 668, third dose: SO. Total
1904 persons receiving total of
2464 doses of this vaccine.
HYDE County: through June
1956-frst dose: 237, second dose:
SGT, third dose: Is. Total 839 per-
sons receiving 1916 doses of the
vaccine.
Making a grand total for the
three counties of 1898 persons re-
ceiving 6212 doses of the vaccine.
So far as has been reported not
single person has had the slight
est unfavorable reaction. 1t APP
pears to me that this record, to-
gether with the reports of over
three million doses given over the
nation without any unfavorable re-
actions, should be sufficient evil
dence that the vaccine is safe and
should allay the fears of anyone
who might hesitate to give their
children the benefit of this protec-
ton from such a dreaded killer
and crippler.
We are very glad to have been
successful enough to get the above
number vaccinated but, at the same
time, we feel that many more
should have received this protec-
ton.
Let me again urge each parent
of children under 20 years of age
and all expectant mothers to get
this protection for their children
and/or themselves. Don't delay! Do
it at the first opportunity.