“Bold, Imaginative Attack On Polio”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 2

“Bold, Imaginative Attack On Polio”

The campaign against poliomyelitis, by the use of oral vaccine for school and preschool children, was a bold and imaginative attack on a crippling and killing disease, said the Director of Medical Services to the Plunket Society (Dr. N. C. Begg) in Christchurch yesterday. The campaign will begin on April 9.

Dr. Begg said it was hoped the campaign, would “outlaw” poliomyelitis in New Zealand.

All school and pre-school children would be given a teaspoon or so of the vaccine in the concentrated attack on the disease, he said.

particularly interested in the pre-school age group and feels a responsibility to get 100 per cent, of the preschool children in New Zealand immunised,” he said. “Working in close co-opera-tion with the Health Department, clinics will be set up at strategic points for the

opening of the campaign next month.”

All mothers of pre-school children should be asked to sign a consent form and it would be wise for them to take a teaspoon to the clinic for the use of their own children, he said. Remarkable Results

Sabin vaccine (the oral vaccine) had been used by millions of people on both sides of the Iron Curtain, with some remarkable results. he said. In Czechoslovakia, as a result of oral vaccinations, there had been no reported case for a year since June, 1960. In Cincinnati, after the introduction of the vaccine there had been no proved case of poliomyelitis since April, 1960, he said.

“This is a message of great hope. With a massive and determined attack in New Zealand we hope to achieve similar results. AH parents of pre-school children should make it their business to give the benefits of oral vaccine to their children,” he said. Dr. Begg talked about oral vaccine to members of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society and subbranches when he was in Christchurch yesterday.