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Title:Secret History: Children Of The Iron Lung 8/8
Date:21st September 2000
Summary:For the greater part of the twentieth century,polio spread panic throughout the western world and caused paralysis in its victims,who were encased in iron lungs and fitted with callipers to support their weakened limbs. The story of these years is explored through the memories of patients,medical staff and policy makers,and asks whether or not the government was too cautious in its introduction of the polio vaccine. The vaccine had been discovered in 1954,and was enthusiastically welcomed in the US,but in Britain the authorities hesitated in establishing a universal immunisation programme.
Description:Exploring the polio epidemic that swept Britain in the 40's and 50's.