Milford chronicle., 1959-03-20
Free Polio Shots
For All Who Come

continued from page one)
those who have had less than three
shots and second, fourth or boost
er" shots for those who started
their series before 1857. Field trial
studies show that many doses adj
ministered in the early days of the
vaccine lacked the potency of to-
days serum. Fourth shots are also
thought advisable for pregnant
mothers and for children in the
highly susceptible school age group.
Next month will see a resumption
of inoculations for children. in the
lchools to provide them with the
fourth shot.
Doctors are chiefly concerned
bout two groups who have had no
Salk shots. One of these is the
eople wfo have never troubled to
have anti-polio injections, while
ne others is the 0-5 age group,
Who, being of pre-schoOl age, have
never been exposed to the rela-
lively complete coverage obtained
by in-school incubation pro-
grams.
There people are now the prime
-argets of the disease. Nationally,
529o of all paralytic polio occurs in
The 0-5 years group. Locally, the
number of polio cases in Delaware
scared to twenty-eight last year,
tfter mild 1857. Twenty-three of
hese cases admitted receiving no
vaccine at all or less than the
recommended three doses. In an
icipation of possibly heavy year
physicians point out that two Salk
shots received this spring should
provide enough protection to car
ry the recipient through the peak
polio season, and allow him rela-
tive safety until he can get the
third shot, which provides more
Or less permanent protection, in
the fall.
The ideal time schedule for re-
eeiving the injections remains un-
changed, despite the apparently
increased potency. The first two
shots should be received about
thirty days apart, the booster shot
about seven months after the sec
ond. Four or. five clinics are now
scheduled in each county and in
Wilmington, and will extend from
ate March to late June This ar
'angement will allow plenty of op-
oOrtunity for getting two shots be-
fore summer arrives.
A new arrangement has been
worked out for the benefit of peo-
Ale I.
who cannot afford to purchase vac
.ine for themselves and their fam
lies. Individual doctors may re-
quest vaccine from the State Board
Of Health for such patients, and
administer it privately. Because of
problems of supply and demand
md the necessity of stretching the
states supply of vaccine as far as
t will go, the doctors may need
.wo or three days warning for
these injections. 1t would be a good
dea to phone the doctor for an ap-
5ointment and to let him know that
Iou need free shots. Doctors will
not be permitted to use state-pur-
chased vaccine on patients who can
buy their own, although there are
40 such limitations in the public
clinics.
People who have received three
shots of vaccine will find it a good
idea to ask their doctors about the
advisability of a fourth shot. The
doctor is best equipped to evaluate
Individual susceptibility, and to
make communications. The doc
sors, of course, are continuing to
provide vaccine to their parents
On a fee-for-service basis.
The major aspect of the polio
problem is seen in two facts. The
first is that there is no protection
against the disease but vaccina-
ion, because the protected person
can still carry the virus to the un-
vaccinated. For example, Children,
inoculated in the schools, remain
potential sources of infection to
their parents. if the parents have
not taken similar steps, The sec
ond and most significant fact is
contained in DR.. Jonas Salk's
statement there need be little
paralytic poliomyelitis in the Uni
ted States if all who are potential
~ susceptible are treated with the
n0xry o.