OFFICE MEMORANDUM ¢ STANFORD UNIVERSITY © OFFICE MEMORANDUM @ STANFORD UNIVERSITY @ OFFICE MEMORANDUM

To

From

SuBJECT:

Dare: December 30, 1968

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics

Dr. Leonard Hayflick
Department of Medical Microbiology

Influenza Vaccines

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Thanks for your thoughtfulness in sending along a
copy of your column on influenza vaccines. Your points
are good ones and effectively made. One interesting
aside in respect to distribution of precious influenza
vaccine is the question of priorities relevant to who

should receive it first, etc. Practically this is a
problem for the manufacturers and all - to aman - see
this as a really hot potato. How can the government

expect each manufacturer independently to set up priorities
for distribution of its vaccine which in some cases may be
potentially life-saving? The pressures, accusations,

and initial black-market potential is a real can of worms.
The DHEW could have established priorities long ago.

We all remember what happened to the Salk vaccine when

it first became generally available. The children of
physicians received it first. It was (perhaps with some
poetic justice) later learned that those early batches

were all contaminated with live SVio9°

In respect to the broader problem, even the common
cold is subject to amelioration with vaccines now since
the technology is known; all that is needed is motivation
in the right places.

Thanks again for your interest.

Sincerely yours,

LH: ap

WNGNVYIOWIW FDIIO © ALISYTAINN GYOANVIS © WNONVYOWAW JDId4O @ ALISYZAINN GYOANVLS @© WNANVYOW3RW JddO © ALISHIAINN GYOINVIS ©