Cooperation between government and industry in combating a perceived emerging pandemic: the 1976 swine influenza vaccination program

Article Abstract:

The disastrous swine flu vaccination program in 1976 is a good example of how diverse agencies and industries can respond to an emerging epidemic of infectious disease. In February, 1976, an outbreak of swine flu occurred at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Swine flu normally occurs in pigs but was shown to be transmissible to humans. The virus was antigenically similar to the one that caused the great flu pandemic of 1918. For this reason, public health officials began a massive campaign to vaccinate the entire US population. Pres Ford declared a national emergency and Congress appropriated money for vaccine distribution. However, many scientists believed that antigenic similarity alone would not cause a pandemic, especially since the disease did not spread outside Fort Dix. Vaccination was begun in October, 1976, but was stopped when 427 cases of a rare paralytic disease called Guillain-Barre syndrome occurred in people who had been vaccinated. Future vaccination programs should be routinely re-evaluated and should require a consensus among scientists.

Laws, regulations and rules, Vaccination, Swine influenza

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Measles elimination in the Americas: evolving strategies

Article Abstract:

The Pan American Health Organization has launched a strategy to eliminate measles from the Americas. By 1982, most countries had begun routinely vaccinating young children, resulting in a 99% reduction in the incidence of measles worldwide. However, several American countries such as the US and Cuba experienced measles outbreaks due to an accumulation of unvaccinated pre-school children. Many countries have developed 'catch-up' vaccination campaigns during which all school-age children are vaccinated regardless of a prior vaccination. Following this, 'mop-up' campaigns are scheduled during which time public health workers deliver vaccine to crowded, urban areas where the most susceptible children live. Since 1991 all American countries except the US and Canada have conducted catch-up campaigns. This has resulted in the elimination of measles in several countries, including Chile and the English-speaking Caribbean.

Latin America, America

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Measles Incidence Before and After Supplementary Vaccination Activities--Lusaka, Zambia, 1996-2000

Article Abstract:

A nationwide vaccination campaign is needed in Zambia to reduce the number of measles cases. Even though a vaccination campaign was conducted in the capital Lusaka in August, 1999, it did not have a major impact on the number of measles cases.

Zambia, Statistical Data Included, Lusaka, Zambia (City)

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