Jonas Salk - Reactions To Influenza Virus Vaccines (1947)

Abstract

In Dr. Curphey's article in The Journal, April 12, concerning a fatal reaction to influenza virus vaccine he has apparently utilized the occurrence of a fatal case in a 3 1/2 year old child to emphasize the work of Ratner and Untracht (The Journal, Dec. 14, 1946, p. 899) regarding the advisability of determining the existence of egg allergy before using vaccines of egg origin.There are so many features about Dr. Curphey's case that are not compatible with an allergic reaction that one might question, as Dr. Curphey has done, the mechanism he emphasized as probably responsible for the course of events observed. If, as seems possible, the reaction that occurred was not due to egg allergy, the results of a skin test would not have provided information that could have prevented the fatal reaction. Therefore I should like to take the opportunity to call attention.