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Polio was the scourge of the beginning of the 20th century. The ones it didn't kill overnight, it often left crippled. The disease mostly attacked young children and had no cure. At first it was not a crisis, but with the industrial revolution in 1916 it became an epidemic
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, former american president a polio survivor helped lead the fight against the disease. He approached the public to donate 1 dime each for the fight against polio. Thousands donated and it was dubbed the March of dimes (first ever GoFundMe 
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March of Dimes not only funded the treatment of polio, it also poured millions into research for a vaccine.
Dr. Jonas Salk created the first vaccine by using a dead virus. Other medical researchers working on an attenuated vaccine called Salk's vaccine 'junk science'
Dr. Jonas Salk created the first vaccine by using a dead virus. Other medical researchers working on an attenuated vaccine called Salk's vaccine 'junk science'
But in 1954, it worked. 1.8 million school children were vaccinated in America as a trial. Polio cases dropped precipitously.
In 1952-58,000 cases
1957- 5,600 cases
1961-161 cases
In the same year of 1961 Dr Albert Sabin's attenuated vaccine was finally ready
In 1952-58,000 cases
1957- 5,600 cases
1961-161 cases
In the same year of 1961 Dr Albert Sabin's attenuated vaccine was finally ready
Both Sabin and Salk refused to patent their vaccines. If they had, it would be costlier and they'd be worth billions.
They were so successful worldwide that with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, by the year 2000 polio was endemic in only 4 countries worldwide
They were so successful worldwide that with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, by the year 2000 polio was endemic in only 4 countries worldwide
Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nigeria. Religion slowed down the immunization of people here. Nigeria and India were declared polio free in 2020. Yes, the same Bill Gates being castigated today is responsible for the eradication of polio.
As we are dealing with the covid19 pandemic we can look with hope at the successful fight against polio and realise that as long as we areq willing to put forth the same effort we can beat this disease as effectively as we did the polio virus
