Par out in the south pacific, 1000 miles north of new zealand, long swells burst on the reefs of tonga. One supportive call for wandering yankee whalers, this island lies apart from regular trade routes. For centuries its people have been isolated with only occasional visitors and a small trait in cobra and copra and bananas. The times are changing. Are opened for copra in asia. A tongan merchant marine, with modern vessels built in europe. Planes will bring war and more tourists to the friendly islands. More islanders will lead to study in other countries. Under the leadership of her majesty the queen and the prince, tongas relative isolation is disappearing. The latest government has been prudent and progressive. It is brought prosperity without destroying traditional customs. Looking forward to the expansion of trade, the government considered the effect of increased contact with the outside world. It was realized there was a definite growing threat to the tongan people. The population was unprotected against smallpox. As smallpox is a disease which is rampant through southeast asia. This was tongas problem, to vaccinate a highly vulnerable population of 70,000 against my pox. To do against smallpox. To do it effectively, immediately, and inexpensively. [traditional singing] [children and adults singing] inour party came to tonga march, 1964, in response to a cross by the in response to a request by the tongan government, physicians and an equipment specialist. We were going to evaluate any rapid and extensive means of giving smallpox vaccinations. Working together with a team of tongan medical personnel who would begin immediately in the capital city, population 20,000, we planned to immunize everyone in the city within a few days. The instrument that would make it possible was a jet injection gun. This device can deliver injections as fast as you can pull the trigger. The gun is simple to operate and ensures that in the proper amount of vaccine under the skin. The gun is operated by a foot pedal. You press the pedal and pulled the trigger. This model is equipped with a new feature, at intradermal nozzle forgetting injections into the superficial layers of the skin, forgiving for giving injections into the superficial layers of the skin as you must for smallpox. Knowing something had to be done to get the populace interested in the immunization drive, we prepared films and posters telling about smallpox, and the importance of vaccination. We delayed most of the planet until after we arrived most of the planning, until after we arrived. Workedgan associates with us and we cannot have gone far without their assistance. Throughout our state we were given a curtis and from the reception throughout our stay, we were given a courteous reception. The first evening we were the guests of the prince. He had flown to atlanta, georgia, in 1960, to discuss the problem of immunizing his people against smallpox. At the Communicable Disease center, he met with Health Service officers. They had just completed their studies of intradermal vaccination with a gun developed by the army. The most suitable place for the introduction of this method was tonga, a progressive country with a small, intact population and no history of smallpox. During the visit of the prince to the center we photographed him getting his vaccination. This was shown everywhere we went, to encourage those who might be reluctant. The people enjoyed it immensely. The next morning, the vaccination drive began. The posters with our message were put up. Smallpox is a dread disease. Vaccination prevents smallpox. Every effort was made to inform the people about the vaccinations and where they could go to get them. It did not take long for them to understand this was being done for their protection. And they cooperated wholeheartedly. One of the things we realized immediately was the importance of getting local people to help. Pupils, she isws the best one to reassure them, to keep track of them. This Laboratory Technician checks childrens children with skin rashes. Them and they performed many vaccinations themselves. Did ingans administration work. We were sharing medical and public of knowledge and experience. We accomplish more than immunizations. The children were curious, not altogether eager for the vaccination, but well behaved. They were expecting something unpleasant. One look at the gun and they were sure it was going to be unpleasant. But the gun is painless it just looks unfriendly. 1 10ed a dove dose of cc, deluded. Diluted. Acetone was used to swab the arm. It dries faster than alcohol and prevents the intradermal had from slipping on the skin prevents the intradermal head from slipping on the skin. The princes daughter took her vaccine with the others. Downtown we took care of government workers, policeman, nurses. For the rest of the week, we went around town setting up convenient locations, processing thousands of people per day. This, we went into the countryside of the main island, where we attended a once a year event, a field day for all of the high schools. It is quite an occasion, a major sports attraction. When he was younger, prince tunggi held the pole vaulting tap in to port 20 years. Are a Healthy People with no problem with yellow fever or heart disease. [wind instrument tune] we took advantage of the field day to vaccinate people in the crowd. Revaccinated about 1000 people vaccinated about 1000 people that day. That night, we were busy centrifuging blood samples, going over records, and disassembling and cleaning the gun. A tremendous amount of time and money was being saved. Smallpox vaccine is extensive. With a gun, you can dilute it 50 times, 50 shots for the price of one. Second, pricking concentrated vaccine into the skin acquires train people, not so with the gun. In addition, the gun virtually eliminates the sterilization problems present in the manual method. All he had to do with the gun was sterilize the internal parts. It is that ready to a minister thousands of consecutive doses. After three and half weeks on the main island, we divided into three teams. One team are made on the main island to assess the results of vaccinations. The two other teams went to the northern and central groups of islands to continue the immunization program. [humming to stringed instrument tune] we went from island to island at a fish collection boat owned by the government, and used to collect and refrigerate that scattered catches from tongan fishermen. These boats are the only means of getting from one place to another. We were out for three and half ofks, doing a population 10,000 people in the Central Island groups. This was the smallest number of people but it took the longest time because of the instance we had to travel. For carrying arctic women from village to for carrying our equipment from village to village, we used a tote goat. Each day we were the guests in a different village. With us were tongans who are part of that medical department, a dentist, a chief medical officer, and others used the trip to conduct regular medical calls. In addition to giving a smallpox vaccine to people of the outer islands, we were evaluating the effectiveness of the diluted vaccine and that jet injection gun. We vaccinated a certain number of people to conventionalwe woue results of both methods and determine the amount of protection the solutions were giving. We made two visits to each island, once to give the injection and to check the reaction. We were in a dugout canoe loaded down with a comfortable two inches to spare. You cant truly appreciate the significance of the work done without considering the millions unprotected against smallpox. We succeeded in immunizing 80 of the available population. We did it faster and more effectively than would have been possible to with standard techniques. , the vaccine had taken. Vaccinations, betterthanexpected. An unparalleled success you realize it was carried out by a small team. Got valuable information about immunity. We worked closely with the tongan people. We shared knowledge and experience. Most important of all, tonga and the United States accomplished something a great promise to the world. What was achieved here on this small Pacific Island can benefit all people. The public Health Service, its people and programs affect the lives of millions of americans ever