Influenza Vaccine Study Volunteers, 1957

Influenza Vaccine Study Volunteers, 1957

Due to limited supplies of influenza vaccines during the 1957 pandemic, many doctors hoped to extend their supply by administering the vaccine intradermally rather than the recommended subcutaneously. Dr. Keith Jensen (CDC) gathered 85 volunteers to test which vaccination route was more effective. 54 volunteers recieved the vaccine intramuscularly and 31 recieved the vaccine intradermally. To test which vaccine was more effective, Jensen drew the volunteers blood to compare the antibody response between the two groups. He discovered that there was no siginifigant difference between the two groups. Pictured here are a groups of volunteers having their blood drawn for an influenza vaccine study during the 1957 pandemic.

CDC Public Health Image Library, Image 14848