topic Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK! in Community Chat

THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Oznell — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 12:00:23 GMT

On this day, February 23 in 1954, the Salk Polio vaccine was first administered, to a group of Pittsburgh school children.

Poliomyelitus was a scourge and regarded with terror and dread by parents and the public. Permanent nerve damage, paralysis and death were often left in its wake.

Just imagine the relief when a vaccine was discovered and subsequently saved millions from a terrible fate. Polio has been virtually eliminated from the United States, although not completely in some other parts of the globe, unfortunately.

February 23 is a milestone date to celebrate-- at least on this occasion, man's perennial struggle to subdue the ravages of disease bore fruit.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Sweetbay magnolia — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 12:28:34 GMT

Yes. This should not be forgotten.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

catter70 — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 12:54:43 GMT

I remember going to the school in the next town for my sugar cube. My sister who is 4 years older than I had polio in 1950, but recovered nicely, though she has some weakness now from post polio syndrome. A friend of mine also had polio around that time and was the poster boy for the Lehigh Valley.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Still Raining — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 12:57:18 GMT

Sometime shortly after this I recall families lining up outside my school for their dose. It must have been a public health move but it was odd to see everyone in town there.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Still Raining — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 13:16:45 GMT

I also remember that this was a terror for little kids prior this. Kids know. We all had measles, mumps and chickenpox as routine events. But this was different. I recall being scared to swim and thought I would be struck down on the way home.

We all need to be grateful every day that our little ones know nothing of this. And if I may get on my soapbox, please vaccinate yours.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

faeriemoon — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 13:30:58 GMT

Hopefully the non-vaccinators don't ruin the success we have experienced.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

SilleeMee — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:02:33 GMT

The history behind how they tested the vaccine is a an interesting and somewhat controversial one. Some have suggested that the testing is linked to other viruses found in central Africa where the polio vaccine was initially given to the locals there. There are some that say these other viruses may have been spread by the vaccine unknowingly and that the end result was not something anyone could have predicted because the technology at the time was lacking regarding virus detection.

There's always some bad that comes with the good in medicine.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Judaline — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:14:23 GMT

I never can remember whose came first-Salk or Sabin? Who actually invented it?

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

conlt — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:16:37 GMT

I saw a documentary on this and the first polio vaccine they used was accidentally made into a live vaccine by a mistake in the manufacturing and given to children. Some of them got polio and Dr. Salk was devastated even though it was not his fault. I remember as a child going to get the polio vaccine in the early 1960's. I also have known some adults with post-polio syndrome and their muscle strength just is not there. Here is a snippet to read about it.

Safety incidents[edit]

In April 1955, soon after mass polio vaccination began in the US, the Surgeon General began to receive reports of patients who contracted paralytic polio about a week after being vaccinated with Salk polio vaccine from Cutter pharmaceutical company, with the paralysis limited to the limb the vaccine was injected into. In response the Surgeon General pulled all polio vaccine made by Cutter Laboratories from the market, but not before 250 cases of paralytic illness had occurred. Wyeth polio vaccine was also reported to have paralyzed and killed several children. It was soon discovered that some lots of Salk polio vaccine made by Cutter and Wyeth had not been properly inactivated, allowing live poliovirus into more than 100,000 doses of vaccine. In May 1955, the National Institutes of Health and Public Health Services established a Technical Committee on Poliomyelitis Vaccine to test and review all polio vaccine lots and advise the Public Health Service as to which lots should be released for public use. These incidents reduced public confidence in polio vaccine leading to a drop in vaccination rates.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Vivian — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:30:08 GMT

Dr Salk’s vaccine came first. I’m old enough to remember the fear of this horrible disease. Our parents were terrified that we’d contract polio and wind up permanently disabled. As a child, I saw what polio could do to people. We were told to stay away from crowds and free standing water (I’m not sure why that one). The relief upon the development of the vaccine was immense. By the time my kids were born, more vaccines became available. They never had to suffer those awful childhood diseases.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

millieshops — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 14:47:00 GMT

I had a high school classmate who'd suffered through treatment in the dreaded iron lung. We didn't need much encouragement to avoid areas that might have carried the germ, and we needed less in our town to show up for the vaccine once it became available.

Dr. Salk was the hero of my childhood, for sure.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Perkup — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:40:16 GMT

Georgia was a frightening place for years due to polio outbreaks in several areas. My cousin who was raised like my brother contracted polio. He was hospitalized in an iron lung on his and my mutual birthday, August 6th. His right lung collapsed over his heart and he passed away on the 13h. I also lost another first cousin, and the young wife of another. It hit our family hard, but there were many others like us. When a vaccine was discovered, young adults and childfen lined up outside schools and public buildings to get a sugar cube - a frightening prospect, but a miracle from heaven. We were happy to wait in line for hours.

Earlier, when I was nine, I woke up one morning wih a high fever and the inabillity to walk. Hospitalized, I spent a week or so in that condition, but finally began to regain my strength and fully recovered. It was never determined whether it was polio, but the strong suspicion was that it had been a light case.

We celebraate and honor men and women who have been active iin many areas of life, but we fail to honor Salk and Sabin, who made such a tanagible difference in so very many lives. Why?

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

GrailSeeker — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 15:50:09 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
The history behind how they tested the vaccine is a an interesting and somewhat controversial one. Some have suggested that the testing is linked to other viruses found in central Africa where the polio vaccine was initially given to the locals there. There are some that say these other viruses may have been spread by the vaccine unknowingly and that the end result was not something anyone could have predicted because the technology at the time was lacking regarding virus detection.

There's always some bad that comes with the good in medicine.

I remember hearing that a monkey virus was used in the vaccine, and that this monkey virus has shown up in some cases of lung cancer. I heard that about 20 years ago. Dr. Dean Edell reported it, though he said it did not mean that the vaccine was the direct cause. It was not understood why the virus was showing up in the tumors.

Also, I wonder why they no longer give the oral polio vaccine. I, too, remember going with my mom and dad, across the highway to the the high school cafeteria for our sugar cubes. When my youngest child was being vaccinated, the nurse said they no longer considered the oral vaccine as effective, and he had to get the shot.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

depglass — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 16:26:28 GMT

I was part of the original trial for the Salk vaccine. Can't remember how it was administered, or how many doses, but we got pins.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Oznell — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 16:45:15 GMT

So sorry, @Perkup, your family was so drastically affected. Thank goodness you survived whatever that episode was that you had!

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

SeaMaiden — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 17:10:46 GMT

My father had polio several years before I was born in his 30's. He stayed in the hospital for a year... the doctors told him he would never walk. He told them otherwise.... and was able to walk with a leg brace that he wore for the rest of his life. He was left with one weak leg. Polio ended his career as a lieutenant Commander in the Navy.... but he went on to work a big company in AeroSpace for the rest of his life.

He never let his disability stop him from being a great Father, fixing things around the house... and working his entire life being a great provider. I remember my friends would ask me why my father limped.... and I was always surprised they brought it up as I never noticed my dad limping or with a disability?

My Father also battled colon cancer in a brain aneurysm in his 40's and 50's

Later in his life he had the polio come back as Post Polio Syndrome... and he had to use a wheel chair for many years. That did not stop him from living in his own apartment, caring for himself and driving himself everywhere into his 90's.

He died from bladder cancer at 95.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Judaline — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 17:32:12 GMT

These stories are horrifying. My brother and I had an illness, the doctor came (to the house) and said to my mom that it's something that looks like polio but it isn't. I thought she would faint from relief. We got better-dunno what it was.

Did they ever find a cause for polio? Was it a virus? We were told to stay out of crowds but it wasn't contagious, was it?

I remember a movie about yellow fever. They thought they'd catch it from those who were infected, not knowing it came from a mosquito!!! That blew my mind. I just wonder now what caused polio-seems like they never found out, so how could they make a vaccine.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

Oznell — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 18:02:57 GMT

What an absolutely extraordinary man your Father was, @SeaMaiden. Thank you for sharing about a truly inspirational life.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

SilleeMee — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 18:19:21 GMT

@GrailSeeker wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
The history behind how they tested the vaccine is a an interesting and somewhat controversial one. Some have suggested that the testing is linked to other viruses found in central Africa where the polio vaccine was initially given to the locals there. There are some that say these other viruses may have been spread by the vaccine unknowingly and that the end result was not something anyone could have predicted because the technology at the time was lacking regarding virus detection.

There's always some bad that comes with the good in medicine.
I remember hearing that a monkey virus was used in the vaccine, and that this monkey virus has shown up in some cases of lung cancer. I heard that about 20 years ago. Dr. Dean Edell reported it, though he said it did not mean that the vaccine was the direct cause. It was not understood why the virus was showing up in the tumors.

Also, I wonder why they no longer give the oral polio vaccine. I, too, remember going with my mom and dad, across the highway to the the high school cafeteria for our sugar cubes. When my youngest child was being vaccinated, the nurse said they no longer considered the oral vaccine as effective, and he had to get the shot.

@GrailSeeker

The original experimental form of vaccine was administered via oral spray and that was later discovered to contain other viruses, possibly from monkeys or chimps. The viruses were too small to be detected at that time but were later seen when technology advanced. The oral vaccine was discontinued and claims were made that it was not effective which still remains a topic for debate. Oddly enough, samples of that oral spray form was 'lost' and researchers say they could not check it for possible monkey/chimp contaminant viruses since the original samples were 'gone'. ...hmmm.

Re: THANK YOU, DR. JONAS SALK!

CatsyCline — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 18:43:44 GMT

The virus lodges in the lower GI tract and it was particularly virulent in water. That is why kids were to stay away from pools and fountains. Poor bathroom habits spread the virus easily. the route of infection is caused by fecal-oral contact. Anywhere there were crowds was risky.

Most people exposed to grime and germs in daily life had built up natural immunity to the disease. At the turn of the 20th century improved sanitation provided great benefits but cleanliness diminished exposure to germs and resistance to viruses like polio dropped.

Poliomyelitis is a virus that may be found dating back to ancient times. There were a few cases of childhood paralysis identified in the 18th century that suggested there was a contagious aspect but none were linked as being the result of a virus. By the 1870s scientists identified and named the virus as poliomyelitis and had indentified epidemics which had occured.