Chap. 481 An Act relative to furnishing salk poliomyelitis vaccine to certain children and others throughout the commonwealth.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide immediately for the

furnishing of Salk poliomyelitis vaccine to certain children and others throughout the commonwealth, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health.

Be it enacted, etc., as follows:

Section 1. The department of public health is hereby authorized and directed to spend such sums as may be appropriated therefor for the purchase of Salk poliomyelitis vaccine.

Section 2. The commissioner of public health shall furnish to any state agency or institution responsible for the vaccination of children and to boards of health in each city and town in the commonwealth as much Salk poliomyelitis vaccine as is necessary to vaccinate and re-vaccinate as necessary any child between the ages of one to nineteen years, inclusive, and any other persons, including pregnant women, in accordance with priorities established by the commissioner, free of cost, who are or whose parents or guardians are unable to pay for such vaccine, or to whom it would be an undue financial hardship.

Section 3. All federal grants available to the commonwealth under any act of congress, and any private gifts from any source, shall be paid into the treasury of the commonwealth and may be expended without specific appropriation for the purposes set forth in section one of this act.

Approved June 27, 1955.