PhD Thesis - ResearchSpace@Auckland - The University of Auckland

Editorials tried to help people to decide that polio immunisation was a sensible
measure, ‘Why parents should say “yes”’ was the title of one such work in the
Auckland Star. 118 In the New Zealand Herald, parents were told ‘Neither fear nor
prejudice should allow New Zealanders to neglect a precaution which can, and will,
save lives and preserve health’. 119 The aim was to educate parents by giving them
relevant information to help them decide. Turbott pointed out that the ‘most
important thing is to see that parents get the fullest information. They must appreciate
the whole position before they are asked whether they will permit their children to
take inoculation treatment’. 120 The Department adopted this stance to try and negate
some of the damaging influence of Cutter in New Zealand. Additionally, with the
polio vaccine itself being so newsworthy, the Department needed to keep abreast of
the reporters and be aware of what was being presented to the public in the papers.
The Department monitored this closely, amply illustrated by the existence of files kept
solely on newspaper clippings from the polio immunisation campaigns. 121 That the
papers were sometimes aware of things before the Department was demonstrated by
the Department learning in the press the date and name of the ship on which the
vaccine arrived in 1956. 122
Parental Attitudes
One of the key aspects of health education for the Department was to reassure parents
that the vaccine was safe, especially after Cutter. Parents were informed that ‘apart
from being thoroughly tested overseas, the treatment has also been subjected to the
most stringent examination by New Zealand experts. 123 ‘Two series of triple tests’
was the title of one article in the Auckland Star devoted solely to a description of the
safety tests carried out on the vaccine. 124 Parents were very interested and there were
numerous requests for Health Department officials to give talks and present additional
118 ibid.
119 NZH, 9 August 1956.
120 AS, 7 April 1956.
121 See YCAS A740/532d 62/3/4 Salk and Sabin Vaccine 1955-56 and YCAS A740/532e Salk and
Sabin Vaccine 1957-74, BCAA 1990/538b Polio Newspaper Clippings 1955-67, BAAK A358/135c
Polio Newspaper Cuttings, ANZ, Auckland.
122 ‘Poliomyelitis Vaccination’, Circular Memo 1957/22, 25 January 1957, H1 144/17 26133, ANZ,
Wellington.
123 NZH, 9 August 1956.
124 AS, 3 August 1956.
148