[The role of international research stays and the European context of polio control in Spain]

Abstract

The epidemic emergence of poliomyelitis in Europe at the end of the 19^th century and its global epidemic progression in the following decades generated great social concern and prompted the international fight against the disease, especially after 1953, when the World Health Organization (WHO) considered it an important international Public Health problem. Spain recorded small outbreaks, which became more intense after the Spanish Civil War and, particularly after 1950. In the middle of that decade, the first vaccines became available in the USA and Europe, and became the main tools to control polio. In Spain, Florencio Pérez Gallardo, from the National School of Public Health, led the work to study the magnitude of the disease and produce his own vaccine, for which he required international support. Within the framework of the social history of medicine, and using varied sources, our work places the Spanish vaccination strategy in the European context, highlighting the delay in its initiation and the deficiencies in its materialization. In addition, it analyses the role played by the international research stays of Pérez Gallardo and his team in order to overcome some limitations and, in 1963, to carry out the first national immunization campaign with Sabin vaccine, packaged by IBYS laboratories, showing the weight carried by their international relations, particularly with Albert Sabin.

Keywords: 20^th century; Europe; Immunization schedule; Poliomyelitis; Research stays; Spain.

Figura 1. Albert Sabin (centro) visitando el laboratorio IBYS el 6 de febrero de 1963. Archivo de Albert Sabin. Universidad de Cincinnati (Estados Unidos).

Figura 2. El Director General de Sanidad (centro) presentando a Albert Sabin (izquierda) en la conferencia dada en la Escuela Nacional de Sanidad el 5 de febrero de 1963. Archivo de Albert Sabin. Universidad de Cincinnati (Estados Unidos).