VACCINE USED “TOO SOON”

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27657, 13 May 1955, Page 13

VACCINE USED “TOO SOON”

Eisenhower On Salk Programme (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) I WASHINGTON, May 11. President Eisenhower said today that United States Government scientists probably took a “short cut” and released the Salk poliomyelitis vaccine for distribution too soon. Emphasising that he was “speculating,” Mr Eisenhower told a press conference that the scientists probably thought they had used all the regular safety tests, but probably did not use some of the more exhaustive ones they were now considering. But, Mr Eisenhower said he was absolutely convinced of the vaccine’s effectiveness and he believed implicitly that it would wipe out poliomyelitis within a measurable time. He said the scientists were properly cautious in ordering a double check. Dr. Leonard Scheele, the United States Surgeon-General, said on Sunday that the current re-check of vaccine stocks and manufacturers’ laboratories was based on information obtained before and after the nowsuspended mass vaccination programme started. Mr Eisenhower was asked why many of the things now being aone were not done before all the “hoopla” about the original announcements of the Salk vaccine in April. He replied that there was “great pressure” to get the vaccination nrogramme going. Mr Eisenhower said government experts were properly cautious in halting vaccine distribution while more checks were made. Some of the trouble might have occurred from efforts to speed up production, he added. Health Secretary Criticised The controversy over the confused inoculation programme, flared up in Congress today, where several Democrats sharply criticised Mrs Oveta Culp Hobby, the Secretary of Health Mr John Fogarty (Democrat, Rhode Island) demanded that Congress “straighten out this mess.”

Mr Charles Vanik (Democrat, Ohio) said that if Mrs Hobby was hasty in clearing the vaccine, she should be held accountable.

He also criticised Mrs Hobby and Dr. Scheele for failing to appear today before the Banking Committee of the House of Representatives for questioning.