1960s

1960

VDH acquires responsibility to administer the Federal Medical Stockpile Program as part of the state’s emergency health services program. The program includes 44 disaster hospitals, each with 200 beds. The Pap Smear Program for cancer detection starts in all Maternal and Child Health Clinics. Today, regular Pap smears save lives by detecting early cases of cervical cancer.

Albert Sabin’s oral polio vaccine is licensed and administered to children in sugar cubes. Public participation in Sabin Sunday polio campaigns contribute to the control and virtual eradication of polio in this country.

1964

The U. S. Surgeon General’s report links cigarette smoking and lung cancer and Virginia launches its anti-smoking initiative. Current programs include the Tobacco Use Control Project and services such as smoking cessation for pregnant women.

1965

Family planning services are available in local health departments throughout Virginia. The clinics provide a broad range of acceptable and effective birth control methods to eligible women and men at low or no cost, depending on family income.

1966

Virginia begins screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) to help alleviate infant mortality. Today, Virginia Newborn Screening Services checks infants for 28 disorders.

1969

Hurricane Camille dumps at least 28 inches of rain on Virginia within eight hours, resulting in one of the worst natural disasters in state history. The intense rain produces debris flows and severe flooding that claims 150 lives, most of them in Nelson County. VDH responds by providing medicine and vaccines to those in the devastated areas.