Released by Thomas Lee J liman, M.D., Director Dep't.

Released by Thomas Lee J liman, M.D., Director Dep't. of Health for Prince William, Fauquier and

Rappahannock •Counties.

Being prepared to face any eventuality is a wise course to follow. Many of us were brought up on adages that stressed the value of always being ready and what could happen if we were not. Sometimes We may question the value of making advance preparations for an event that may not occur. But when we are dealing with the lives and health of our children, nobody can challenge our duty to be fully prepared. Right now tens of thousands of health officials, physicians, school authorities and lay volunteers all over the country are planning;, and preparing for a polio vaccine program that may start in April. Thje word "“may” is the crux of the situation. We still do not know if the Salk polio vaccine, given to 440,000 children last spring, prevents paralytic polio under conditions of natural exposure. We will not know the answer until the scientific evaluation report is issued sometime in April. But we cannot wait until that late date before making full preparations for the possible vaccination of first and second grade school children throughout the nation. If the vaccine is licensed by the Federal Government, it should be given before the next polio season starts, to protect as many children as possible.. Health Officers feel this responsibility so keenly that they are making plans in advance, arranging for supplies now, while we are still in the waiting period for knowledge of results of last year’s trial of the vaccine.

The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis has taken a calculated financial risk by, contracting to purchase a supply of vaccine to keep production going during the waiting period and thus insure that vaccine would be on hand immediately after licensing. Vaccine purchased by the National Foundation would be offered to children in first and second grades of all schools and to those in the trial groups in 217 areas last spring who did not receive vaccine at that time. They have been selected because of high polio incidence in their age group and their accessibility through • schools. Additional amouhts of vaccine also will be available to physicians through usual channels.

Unfortunately, word of current planning may give the impression that those in charge actually know the vaccine is effective. This is not the case. No one knows the 'answer-yet, not even workers at t the Polio Evaluation Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But “Always Prepared” is a good motto for crucial situations. The advance planning being done now is an example of that motto wisely being put into practice.