Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

‘A matter of commonsense’ : the Coventry poliomyelitis epidemic 1957 and the British public

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Millward, Gareth (2017) ‘A matter of commonsense’ : the Coventry poliomyelitis epidemic 1957 and the British public. Contemporary British History, 31 (3). pp. 384-406. doi:10.1080/13619462.2016.1247701

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP-matter-commonsense-poliomyelitis-British-Millward-2017.pdf - Published Version - Requires a PDF viewer.
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (1453Kb) | Preview
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13619462.2016.1247701

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

In 1956, the British Ministry of Health instituted a vaccination programme against poliomyelitis, but run into myriad supply and administrative issues. When Coventry experienced an epidemic in 1957, it came to symbolise these problems. Throughout, it was claimed that the government lacked ‘common sense’. This article explores how and why ‘common sense’ was used as a rhetorical weapon in the debates over policy at the local and national level. While those claiming ‘common sense’ were often at odds with medical and administrative authorities, the arguments were often informed by deeply held beliefs about vaccination and disease.

Item Type: Journal Article
Divisions: Faculty of Arts > History
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Poliomyelitis -- Vaccination -- Coventry (England) -- 20th centruy, Public health administration
Journal or Publication Title: Contemporary British History
Publisher: Routledge
ISSN: 1361-9462
Official Date: 2017
Dates:
DateEvent
2017Published
31 October 2016Available
10 October 2016Accepted
Volume: 31
Number: 3
Page Range: pp. 384-406
DOI: 10.1080/13619462.2016.1247701
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
WT-100586-Z-12-ZWellcome Trusthttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010269
Related URLs:
  • Other Repository

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us