Evaluation of Poliomyelitis Vaccination in Massachusetts

Abstract

IT is ironic that Massachusetts should have had its largest epidemic of poliomyelitis just before the time when poliomyelitis vaccine was to become available in sufficient quantities to protect the whole of the younger population. However, this furnished an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine in an epidemic situation. At the suggestion and with the financial assistance of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, a special study was undertaken. Since the regular personnel of the Department were devoting their entire time to matters connected with the epidemic itself, it was necessary to obtain special field and office . . .