Polio, a highly infectious viral disease, can cause rapid paralysis by invading the nervous system. It primarily affects children under the age of 5, and in the past, it claimed the lives of thousands of American children each year. However, today, polio is a distant memory. According to the World Health Organization, more than 20 million people who would have otherwise been paralyzed can now walk, thanks to polio vaccines. Additionally, the systematic administration of vitamin A during polio immunization activities has prevented an estimated 1.5 million childhood deaths.
Dr. Jonas Salk, an American virologist, played a significant role in this breakthrough. He developed one of the first polio vaccines, and in 1995, a year before his death, polio was declared eradicated in North and South America. Globally, polio cases have decreased by 99%, with only six reported in 2021. Salk’s stance on patenting the vaccine was remarkable. As he approached success with his vaccine in 1955, he stated that it wouldn’t be right to patent such an essential drug. He believed that “the people” were the true owners, comparing it to patenting the sun. This statement became iconic, especially in an era when vaccine inequity hindered access to life-saving inoculations. In our current COVID-19 era, his words are even more significant as anti-vaccine ideology divides populations.
However, understanding Salk’s position requires delving deeper. Dr. Charlotte D. Jacobs, a Stanford professor and Salk biographer, points out that subsequent scholars mistakenly believe Salk personally gave away the polio vaccine, which he never owned. Salk recognized the work of his predecessors and expressed his belief that these drugs should be widely available. The March of Dimes, also known as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, supported Salk’s work and explicitly prohibited patents for research performed under its grants.
Salk’s values and vision for public health continue to hold relevance today. His son, Dr. Peter Salk, reflects on his father’s disinterest in profiting from the vaccine compared to the practices of pharmaceutical companies in the present day. Furthermore, Salk assumed that vaccines would be universally welcomed, as there was no widespread anti-vaccine movement in the ’50s and ’60s. People saw vaccines as life-saving innovations. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center, recalls how his parents celebrated the announcement of the polio vaccine and the trust people placed in science during that era.
The Cutter incident of 1955 serves as an example of the public’s trust in science. Despite the accidental distribution of a live polio virus, resulting in severe consequences, including deaths, it did not shatter the confidence people had in the government, the pharmaceutical industry, and vaccine regulation. Instead, it highlighted the need for stronger regulatory measures and increased government funding for research. The March of Dimes played a vital role in financing the research and trials for the Salk and Sabin vaccines.
Considering the present landscape, Dr. Peter Salk believes his father would be puzzled by the anti-vaccine movement. Jonas Salk dedicated himself to protecting the population from infectious diseases while also addressing broader human issues. He wrote books on these topics and was involved in efforts to develop an HIV vaccine and improve access to medications in Africa and Asia. Despite his scientific contributions, Salk’s liberal politics drew the attention of J. Edgar Hoover and resulted in an investigation, though nothing significant was found.
It is important to honor Salk’s legacy and remember the impact of his work, as well as consider the progress and challenges that persist in the field of public health.
Read more about pandemics
