[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 118 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONONRING DRS. JOHN GORMAN, VINCENT FREDA AND WILLIAM POLLACK FOR 
                        CREATING THE RH VACCINE

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                           HON. LEONARD LANCE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2017

  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Drs. John 
Gorman, Vincent Freda and William Pollack for their creation of the Rh 
Vaccine. May 29, 2018, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the 
availability of this important and innovative medical therapeutic.
  Prior to May 29, 1968, Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN), which 
is caused by a blood incompatibility between the mother and the fetus 
or newborn baby, had afflicted women over the ages. In the United 
States alone it was affecting thousands of Rh negative women and was 
responsible for nearly 9,000 fetal or newborn deaths annually. To 
address this crisis, Drs. John Gorman and Vincent Freda, practicing 
physicians at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and Dr. 
William Pollack, of the Ortho Research Foundation at Johnson & Johnson 
in New Jersey, created a new vaccine that would prevent HDN and rapidly 
become the standard, world-wide, in the care and management of every Rh 
negative pregnancy.
  The Rh Vaccine has nearly eliminated Rh hemolytic disease in the 
United States. This development has produced savings in human and 
financial costs that are estimated to exceed $750 million dollars 
annually. The Rh Vaccine has a track record of being one of the most 
effective and safest products in the history of vaccines.
  Drs. Gorman, Freda and Pollack were recognized for their work by the 
American Association of Blood Banks in 1969. In 1980, they were again 
recognized for this accomplishment by sharing the Lasker Clinical 
Medical Research Award, which honors those whose contributions have 
improved the clinical treatment of patients.
  The Rh Vaccine is just one example why New Jersey is known as the 
medicine chest of the world. All the research and development for the 
vaccine was done in Raritan, New Jersey, which is part of the district 
that I serve. The product continues to be manufactured there today.
  Mr. Speaker, the accomplishments of Drs. Gorman, Freda and Pollack 
should inspire all of us. They should remind us the important role 
Congress has in encouraging research and development. Together, we can 
continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the next group 
of great doctors and scientists in this country has the support they 
need to bring innovative medicines and products to market.

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