Viral Vaccines and Human Welfare

Present Status of Viral Vaccines†

“…Measles may be cited as an example of apparent failure. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to adapt polio virus to the embryonated egg before 1953, when Cox and his colleagues (4) succeeded in doing so with the Lansing strain Type 2, by more than 150 serial passages in hamsters followed by serial passages in the egg. Since this feat was accomplished, Cox and his associates have apparently been able to adapt both of the other known types of poliomyelitis virus to the egg and are attempting to produce a human vaccine, probably of the “live” virus type.…”

The Changing Outlook in Poliomyelitis

“…When one considers the amount of blood needed to produce even a small quantity of gamma globulin it is clear that there is really very little of the latter available. Cox (1953) has estimated that the entire output of gamma globulin in the United States during 1952 would be sufficient to protect only 1.7 per cent of children under 10 years of age there for one month. Also to be considered is the fact that any gamma globulin used for this purpose must contain a reasonably high titre of antibody to the three types of virus.…”

Discussion on Poliomyelitis

“…Active immunity.-Experiments are now in progress by a number of workers in the UJnited States and in Sweden with the object of producing a safe and effective vaccine, using virus adapted to experimental animals, chick embryos and tissue cultures (Howe, 1952;Salk et al, 1953;Cox, 1953).…”