PhD Thesis - ResearchSpace@Auckland - The University of Auckland

immunisation’s ‘Golden Age’ before the concerns about vaccine side-effects became
more prominent.
From the 1970s onwards, immunisation was usually mentioned in connection with the
study of the history of particular diseases but not as a topic in its own right. One of
the earlier examples was J. R. Paul’s work, A History of Poliomyelitis (1971) with
polio the disease being the dominant discourse rather than polio immunisation ‘per
se’. 8 Historians addressing particular diseases, including the social, political and
economic responses, have invariably discussed immunisation as part of a wider story.
This methodology was evident in Evelyn Hammonds’ work on diphtheria in New
York City in the early part of the twentieth century. The book contained two chapters
on the city’s mass immunisation campaign for diphtheria from 1929-32. Diphtheria
was (and is) a disease that has not received a great deal of attention from historians
and this work was therefore of some significance. However, the disease was studied
in isolation; there was no comparison to other diseases and their methods of control.
Moreover, the book only considered events in New York City; there were no
references to diphtheria immunisation carried out in other parts of the United States
and only a few to initiatives overseas.
The chapters on diphtheria immunisation in Hammonds’ book were carefully
constructed and presented a picture, not only of vaccine developments and initiatives
by scientists and health administrators in New York City, but also some of the views
of parents regarding immunisation and their reasoning behind acceptance or refusal.
Hammonds also drew attention to the importance of mass advertising and media
publicity and examined the significant role it played in the campaign’s success, thus
providing a benchmark for future campaigns both at home and overseas. This work’s
value was in portraying a large American city’s experience and perspective and so
providing a comparison and contrast for diphtheria policy both in New Zealand and
elsewhere. 9
8 J. R. Paul, A History of Poliomyelitis, New Haven and London, 1971.
9 E. M. Hammonds, Childhood’s Deadly Scourge: The Campaign to Control Diphtheria in New York
City, 1880-1930, Baltimore, 1999.
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