Stirling Observer

Footballer’s death sparks vaccine rush

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A well-known footballer’s death in England led to `unpreceden­ted’ demand for the poliomyeli­tis vaccine in Stirlingsh­ire, the Observer of May 1959 reported.

Full back Jeff Hall, who made 227 appearance­s for Birmingham City and had caps for both England and England B, fell ill on March 21, two days after turning out for his club.

The Scunthorpe-born 29-year-old was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with polio. He became paralysed and lost the power of speech, and passed away on April 4.

Up until then, the take-up of the polio vaccine had been slow, even though it had been widely available.

However, following the death of Jeff, his widow Dawn went on TV and spoke about her loss – prompting a nationwide surge in demand for immunisati­on against the disease.

And the Jeff Hall effect was felt in Stirlingsh­ire, Dr E Neil Reid, county medical officer of health for Stirlingsh­ire, reported to the county’s public health committee.

He said demand had led to a shortage of the vaccine but it was hoped this would only be temporary.

Dr Reid said 24,036 pre-school and school children – about 75 per cent of the county’s child population – had received two injections against polio and 11,000 had received their third injection.

About 25 per cent of expectant mothers accepted the vaccinatio­n.

Response in the county to the anti-tuberculos­is vaccine remained `excellent’. In the 13 years age group, 1062 children out of 1142 accepted vaccine during the year, a rate of 92.9 per cent compared with 91.6 per cent in 1957.

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