In the 1950's--but even in the years before, Polio, a disease that paralyzed the nervous system, was a terrible fear for parents of young children.
My second grade teacher was a victim of polio and so were some of my other teachers in junior high and college. I even had a distant cousin who was chosen as the March of Dimes poster girl one year in Utah. During the 1950's it was a race for scientists to find a vaccination. In this case it was Dr. Jonas Salk, and later Dr. Sabin whose efforts helped eliminate polio in American. When children are very young, they are given the polio vaccination, and boosters in the years to follow.
Some people were very unfortunate. For them, iron lungs were developed which would help them to breathe until they recovered and could breathe on their own. However, others remained in iron lungs the rest of their lives.
My second grade teacher was a victim of polio and so were some of my other teachers in junior high and college. I even had a distant cousin who was chosen as the March of Dimes poster girl one year in Utah. During the 1950's it was a race for scientists to find a vaccination. In this case it was Dr. Jonas Salk, and later Dr. Sabin whose efforts helped eliminate polio in American. When children are very young, they are given the polio vaccination, and boosters in the years to follow.
Some people were very unfortunate. For them, iron lungs were developed which would help them to breathe until they recovered and could breathe on their own. However, others remained in iron lungs the rest of their lives.
