Medicine: Eye on the Needle

As he takes his inoculations on one of the armed forces' medical production lines, many a G.I. has been moved to rueful speculation: How many shots must a man get before they begin to do more harm than good? Last week an Air Force doctor provided an answer that was hardly reassuring for the needle-shy. Repeated inoculations of vaccines, reported Major Rexford Haycraft, are not organically harmful.

In a two-year study, Dr. Haycraft worked with 200 of the Strategic Air Command's most imposing physical specimens. Half, designated as controls, had been given routine inoculations—an average of 40 shots per man. The other...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!