[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5376]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, there was a story in today's Washington Post 
about the Salk vaccine being approved for usage in this country 50 
years ago, on April 12, 1955. There was a picture of a second-grade 
student getting a shot as a test case in 1954. It brought back memories 
to me that I wanted to relate here.
  My father was a physician. In 1954, he gave shots to second-grade 
children as part of the testing of the Salk vaccine. I had a brother in 
the second grade. My father gave him the shot that he gave all other 
second-graders.
  I was in kindergarten. My father's mission was not to give shots 
beyond the second grade. So while the vaccine was in my home, he 
thought about giving it to me but didn't.
  In the spring of 1954, I came down with polio. My father never 
forgave himself for not giving me that vaccination. I have suffered for 
it ever since and will continue for the rest of my life.
  I relate this story to tell the American people: Vaccinate your 
children. Don't listen to the hysteria. Science has given us ways to 
stop children from getting diseases that have threatened society for 
generations. Do vaccinate. It is safe.

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