[Letter to Jon Cohen from Enna E. Rodas with Attached 1955 Memo]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Rockville MD 20857 February 11, 1991 WASHINGTON CITY PAPER Attn.: Jon Cohen, Senior Editor 724 9th Street, NW. Washington, DC 20001 Dear Mr. Cohen: This is in partial reply to your request dated January 18, 1990, addressed to the Department of State's Information and Privacy Staff which was received by this office on January 15, 1991. You requested "files, notes, and/or records regarding Drs. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin... [and] their polio vaccine work." The enclosed document consisting of a memorandum dated April 13, 1955, from Dr. David E. Price, Assistant Surgeon General, to Mr. Robinson McIlvaine, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, was found in the files of the Department of State when they were searching for responsive documents to your request, and subsequently forwarded to our office for disclosure determination. The Public Health Service does not have any concern as to the release of said document. Because the cost of providing this information was less than $10, there is no charge. For further information on status of this request, please address you inquiries to: United States Department of State Attn.: Frank M. Machak, Acting Director Freedom of Information, Privacy & Classification Review CC No. 9000439 Washington, DC 20520 Sincerely yours, na E. Rodas Freedom of Information Technician PiS/Office of Communications [phone] Enclosures as indicated ~IlIII II I 11111 1111 11 1 llIfI I I hIfll I f 1III II 5571095.0535.029

Ofce Memorandum * UNITED 3STATES GOVERNMENT To:rT. Bobison Mcllvaine DATE: April 13, 16 Deouty Assistant Secret2ry of 3tate FROM: vid 7*:rice,. Lw Assistant Surzeon General suBJECT:s:alk f-oiu Thccine tnHited States abiUity to mee t requezsts f technica2. inf'.Ltin, reazgents, -and t'wiingz in s eciil laboratoryr s.<il2.s >1is io to ccafirri my t eieorone c versation of' this tnoni hioh Ireoorted results of ny discussions with Dr. Tillia or >e, 'hie>2, scratoy f Ciolo2ies Cortr;1, a&blXc Heth Sevie andc Dr. Jonas >1lk, University of 9ittsbourgh. 1. T an informed tn t t:e ar' no or ccssiv Datents on the?.?e ~:ical iaformation essential to ernrt a-aration of~ tho vaccine has been oa lished and can no nade available eaily. Dr. ~orknoan states tha.t the 'rocesses are described 'veil and shou1d lead to no accusation that essential ste-ms w-r- -ithheld. 3. Jr. salk inforned me his Laboratory is willing and vro:11 >o 2'4e on request to oroWide seed viruses of the three types uso~ in he conmercial vaccine. He stated he can also provide virus and antiserims to be used as standarcas. L. The minimumi standards establisnea tor the vaccine umder the Biclogics Control Act are available for distrib:tion upn reouest. ~3. Dr. Salk has stated ne will be willing to receive a limited nuzmber of foreign scientists in his Laooratory for brief training in tecnnical phases of vaccine oroduction. Iknow there are other University laboratories which will cooperate in helping train individuals in various special techniques applicable in this mak Ifeel these constitute adequate assurance that the United States will be able to meet reasonable requests for assistance in starting vaccine production abroad. U)~rT1 4 0