334 



genuine consensus is arrived at. It was evident, on this occasion, that 

 the panelists resisted the taking of such a vote on the continuance of 

 a program that some of them said should be further studied and dis- 

 cussed. Nevertheless, when confronted with the need to arrive at a 

 decision, the panel did not recommend halting the program. Appar- 

 ently it was compelled, reluctantly, to conclude that PHS corrective 

 actions were reasonably adequate. These conclusions helped to allevi- 

 ate congressional concern, and encouraged the decision to sponsor mass 

 public distribution of the vaccine. 



In addition, the panel served usefully to provide the Congress with 

 objective information about the issues at stake, and to inform the 

 committee about the components of the calculated risk the program 

 involved. It also served to make public a scientific debate that in- 

 formed the public that there was some risk to be encountered in the 

 wide public use of the vaccine. 



The House Commerce Committee report made it clear that the 

 committee regarded the panel presentation as valuable in allaying 

 fears about proceeding with the program on the basis of a calculated 

 risk : 



The panel presentation made it clear that the use of the Salk vaccine involved 

 certain risks. However, on the basis of the panel presentation, the committee 

 believes that the experts, on the whole, feel the risks involved are small in 

 comparison with the benefits which they expect can be derived, from the applica- 

 tion of the vaccine. Furthermore, there is a distinct possibility, according to 

 the testimony, that the vaccine will be made still safer by substituting a less 

 virulent strain of the virus for one of the strains now used in the production of 

 the vaccine.*" 



While the committee did not consider legislation to strengthen PHS 

 administration, it took notice of the procedural changes made in the 

 agency and added its interpretation of the need for PHS obligations 

 in future vaccine development and surveillance: 



* * * The committee is happy to note that the Public Health Service has an- 

 nounced the formulation of a research program which includes the consideration 

 of other strains of poliomyelitis virus for inclusion in the vaccine. It is gratifying 

 to the committee to know that this research program will be participated in by 

 university, industrial, and governmental laboratories. This cooperative endeavor 

 appears to give renewed assurance that the development of an even better vaccine 

 will be pursued aggressively and on a cooperative basis. 



Finally, the committee feels that compression of time has been responsible in 

 several instances, in connection with development, testing, and licensing of the 

 poliomyelitis vaccine, for a great deal of confusion and the taking of unnecessary 

 risks. Under these circumstances, the committee feels all the more that sufficient 

 time should be allowed to the States to develop the best possible vaccination pro- 

 grams and to use a vaccine which gives every assurance that the risks inherent 

 in its use are as slight and the benefits as great as scientific knowledge may make 

 possible.®^ 



Smooth acceptance and distri'bution of Sabin vaccine 



In evaluating the consequences of the congressional investigation 

 of the Salk vaccine in 1955 and the result of congressional recommen- 

 dations, it is useful to review the activities of the PHS in 1961 with 

 respect to the licensing of the Sabin oral vaccine. On May 14, 1961, 

 President Kennedy requested that Congress appropriate $1 million for 

 the "stockpiling" of the Sabin vaccine in case of polio outbreaks in the 

 United States. At the same time he requested continued use of the Salk 



"o House Report No. 1186, cit., p. 3057. 

 « Ibid., p. 3063. 



