Footballer’s death sparks vaccine rush
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.