Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1901 — Plan to Vaccinate Everybody. [ARTICLE]

Plan to Vaccinate Everybody.

A plan for general vaccination of the people of the state has been prepared by the state board of health and is now being considered by Governor Durbin, whose indorsement is desired before the board takes action. The fact that smallpox now prevails in 21 counties and that the seeds of the epidemic are being sown everywhere,* leading to danger of a death harvest next winter, has led to aotion by the state board of health. There is remaining in the fund for the prevention of contagious discuses and the protection of health, the sum of $50,000. It is proposed to spend a part of this in purchasing the purest virus obtainable and in offering free vaccination to everbody. Every health officer in the state will be instructed to vaccinate free of charge every person that comes to him. As a starter it is proposed to send out 50,000 points to counties where smallpox now prevails to be used in vaccinating all susceptible persons that will consent to it. Those that desire to do so may pay for the vaccination and the receipts will be collected and used by the state board of health in purchasing virus and thus a sort of endless chain will be established.