Which vaccine is the first to be widely used to prevent a disease that once caused paralysis in children?
Quick Answer
The polio vaccine was introduced to stop poliomyelitis, a disease that could cause lifelong paralysis and death. The inactivated vaccine arrived in 1955, followed by the oral vaccine in 1961.
The Full Story
Polio vaccines were among the most transformative vaccines in history because poliomyelitis could cause paralysis in children and adults, and sometimes death. Jonas Salk’s inactivated polio vaccine was licensed in 1955, and Albert Sabin’s oral polio vaccine was introduced in 1961. These vaccines drove polio cases down dramatically around the world. Global eradication efforts continue, with only a few countries still reporting wild poliovirus in recent years.
Key Facts
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"The vaccine that nearly ended a crippling childhood disease."
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