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Many people were made sick or crippled by Infantile Paralysis or Polio. The paralysis was caused by the disease attacking the nervous system. For some, the nerves that controlled breathing were damaged. Those patients were placed in an iron lung to help them breath until they were able to recover from the disease.. | Public Domain photo
Polio was a disease that was feared by everyone. An otherwise healthy person could become paralyzed or lose their life after contracting the disease. So when an immunization was finally created, everyone wanted it. Shots became available in Dublin in 1961.
Dr. Cole and Dr. Pate held a clinic in the Majestic Movie Theater on August 12, 1961. The vaccinations cost 30 cents. It was an all out effort to make sure the 30 percent of school children and 40 percent of adults get a vaccination if they want one. The Dublin Progress went on to say that the second and third series of shots would be offered at the times required. In the August 18, 1961 Dublin Progress states that overall the clinic was a success with 259 given the shots. The clinic was sponsored by the Dublin Jaycees. A third series of Polio shots were given according to the June 21, 1962 Dublin Progress. The clinic was run by Dr. Ben Bradley and Lila Smith. A year later, the oral vaccine created by Albert Sabin became available in the United States. A special event was scheduled by town leaders. The headline in the Dublin Progress July, 28, 1962 was “SOS - Sabin Oral Sundays July 26, August 5.” This clinic was sponsored by the Tri-County Medical Society and the Dublin Jaycees. The Jaycees also known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce headed up the phone and car committees. Dr. Pate, chairman of the event asked local pastors to announce the event during church. The pastors also prepared forms and placards for distribution.
The Explorers, Boy Scouts and Camp fire Girls passed out hand bills door to door. The older Scouts helped with parking cars at the city park where the immunizations were given.
According to the July 26, 1962 Dublin Progress, “The vaccine composed of three drops on a lump of sugar, will be prepared by druggists from Hall and Cleveland Pharmacy and Ogle Drug. Henderson Super Market provided the sugar.” “ Over 100 million doses have already been given throughout the world with several million having been given in the United States alone.”
“The oral vaccine to be administered Sunday afternoon will be the Type I. Six weeks later Type III is scheduled to be given and Type II should be taken after a lapse of another six weeks. The reason of giving Type I first, is due to the fact that the largest number of polio cases in Texas have been of this type.”
“The oral vaccine was flown in from New York to Fort Worth Wednesday and will be distributed to various points for the inoculation program Sunday. Vaccine used here will be flown to Stephenville and picked up by a Jaycee committee member Sunday and brought directly to the Community Center.” “SOS in the past has always meant a distress signal. Today it means Sabin Oral Sundays...the vaccine to prevent and destroy the polio virus.” ‘This program can only be called successful when every man, woman, boy and girl has taken part.” stated officials of this campaign.
The August 2, 1962 Dublin Progress headlined, “2880 Receive Oral Vaccine; To Give Type 1 Again Sunday.”
The program was a huge success.
Lane Gee and his son C.L. contracted Polio in 1948, but they wanted to help with the clinic any way that they could. He said “It’s too late for us, but we want to do our part to help prevent others from contracting this dread disease.”
“It is imperative that everyone from six weeks of age through the oldest person living receive this oral vaccine since any person can be a carrier. The only way that polio virus can be stamped out is by a 100% participation of the people.”
Mrs. Grady Swindle, another victim of polio said, “Polio is no respecter of persons. It will hit the old and young alike. I encourage everyone to take the oral vaccine to help someone else from being stricken.”
The second Sabin Oral Sunday on August 5 had a total of 1373 people taking the Type I immunization, bringing a total of 4253 received the vaccine meaning that 85% of Dublin area citizens took the vaccine.
Organizations in Dublin were asked to continue helping with the Type III and Type II immunizations. The September 13, 1962 Dublin Progress stated that “ a person may be a carrier of any or all three types of polio. As long as an individual is a carrier, he is in danger and endangers those he comes in contact with. To rid ourselves of these deadly germs, it is imperative that the oral vaccine be taken.
With the help of scientist nationwide and concerned citizens here, Polio left Dublin and has not returned.