immunizations

   
                                                                Immunizations

  In the 1940s and early 1950s, the most dreaded and feared illness was polio. There was no known cause, no known cure. Mild cases left mild effects, worst ones left patients living in iron lungs for the rest of their lives or never walking again. Children were kept out of crowds and were not allowed to swim during the 'dog days' of August, which was two precautions parents took. They didn't really have any effect but at least they felt they were doing 'something'. When a child complained of a headache or stiff neck, the parents panicked as that was usually the first symptoms. 

         The Salk vaccine was released to the public in 1955, which was a major development in the medical field and parents felt Dr. Salk was a savior of their children. Now it is routine to immunize babies against this in addition to whooping cough, measles, tetanus, etc., which parents take for granted.   What the public doesn't know is about some of the tests before it was released for public use.

       In early September of 1952, a number of counties in the country were chosen as target test areas. Franklin county, Illinois was one of them.  Essentially, they wanted to see how many children it would kill or maim before they would release it. I was one of those children, in addition to every grade school age child in the county.  Children in Coello, Mulkeytown, Buckner and Christopher were run through like cattle in Christopher grade school cafeteria. Long tables were manned by nurses with syringes loaded with all the vaccines available at the time. Smallpox vaccination is the only one I remember besides the Salk vaccine.  

     No one objected, balked, cried or questioned. We simply accepted that these ladies in the white dresses knew best. Some of us, including me, had never had a shot, took an antibiotic or saw a doctor on a regular basis.  

      I remembered it happening but didn't know the rest of the story until I happened to see it on The History Channel.  The kicker? Our parents were not asked to give permission and didn't even know it was planned until it was over and done. (My mother verified this.) Probably our parents would have been thrilled that something could prevent crippling or killing their children, gladly giving permission had they been asked.  

      Out of all the test groups, 8 children died from the vaccine, which they considered to be successful, paving the way for the elimination of this disease.

     Suppose someone came up with a vaccine for cancer. Would you want your child to receive it? Without your permission or knowledge? Would you be willing to take it? 

      Salk vaccine tests ended with a positive outcome, benefitting all people everywhere, but imagine for a minute it had killed or maimed the majority of the children. Parents today might still be dreading polio and it's effects and hoping for a cure instead of routinely being inoculated.  As for me, I am glad he dared to try and happy he succeeded.  What about you?