IN REPLY REFER TO

FILE NO.

DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
WASHINGTON 285, D.C.

BUREAU OF STATE SERVICES

JUL 15 1957

Hon, John E, Fogarty
House of Representatives

Dear Mr, Fogarty:

This is in reply to your letter of July 8, 1957, to Mr. Sam
Kimble with which you forwarded a letter from Mrs, Geneva Smedberg
of Centredale, Rhode Island. Mrs. Smedberg wishes to know why we
export polio vaccine when cur own children have not been adequately
protected.

The establishment of export quotas for poliomyelitis vaccine
and the approval of export licenses under this quota is the respon-
sibility of the Department of Commerce, The Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, however, does participate in an advisory
capacity in these functions, The decision to permit export of a
limited amount of vaccine to friendly countries is based on two
considerations.

The first of these is a humanitarian consideration for the
health and welfare of children in these friendly countries, Export
licenses are approved only for those areas in which the incidence of
poliomyelitis is high and where the vaccine is to be used for the pro-
tection of those age groups in which the risks are at least as great
as those in the United States,

The second consideration relates to our dependence on foreign
countries for a supply of monkeys which are essential both in the
production and testing of the vaccine. Some time ago, vaccine manu=
facturers in this country were faced with a possible embargo on
monkeys by India, the principal source of our supply. The decision
of the United States to share our vaccine supplies with other nations
has been an important factor in ensuring an adequate source of monkeys
for production of vaccine both for domestic use and for export.

The total amount of poliomyelitis vaccine which has been exported
since the beginning of the program is 12,863,)15 ec. ‘This is approximately
seven percent of the vaccine which has been producede An export quota is
established for each quarter shortly before the beginning of the quarter,
= 2 =

In establishing these quotas, primary consideration is given to the

anticipated supply of vaccine which will be available and to the
anticipated domestic demand for vaccine. It was on the basis of

_ these considerations that the export quota for the third quarter of

this year was reduced to 3,000,000 cce from the quota of 5,000,000 cce

which had been in effect for the second quarter, and the quota of

7,000,000 cce which had been established for the first quarter,

If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.

Sincerely yours,

Onn a ge

Assistant Surgeon General
Chief, Bureau of State Services