The department said it hoped all parents of Canberra school children would consent to their offspring receiving the Sabin anti-polio vaccine.

They sent out cards to parents seeking permission for their children to get the vaccine, which would roll out in within the week.

A spokesman for the department said there were 23,000 children in primary and secondary schools in Canberra.

They said it was important that all children in the ACT got the polio vaccine.

They said the value of the immunisation had been proven by the drop in the incidence of polio after the introduction of large-scale Salk vaccinations in 1956.

It was reported that children who had already had a full course of Salk vaccine should still get Sabin as well, because the immunity would be reinforced and extended.

If a child had not received a full course of Salk, or no Salk at all, the Department said it was essential that they be given Sabin.

It was the first time the oral vaccine had been used in Australia, and there had been much debate over the two different vaccines.

The first schools to be visited would be Canberra High School, Red Hill Primary School and Lyneham High School, followed by Campbell and Watson high schools the next day.

See trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/11622238