Today in History, June 23.
Death of Jonas Salk at age 80, June 23, 1995-
Dr. Salk was the American Virologist known as the creator of the first safe and effective Polio Vaccine.
Jonas Salk was born October 28, 1914, and grew up poor in New York City. His father, (like mine), was a Garment worker. He attended City College, and then NYU, where he got his M.D. He interned at Mt. Sinai for two years, then studied Flu Viruses at University of Michigan.
In 1947, he took a position at University of Pittsburgh and began his research on Polio. It's important to remember that this effort was originally organized by President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor who built the "March of Dimes", at that time the biggest volunteer grassroots fundraising effort in history, literally led by children. This was FDR's way of giving back to all of the people involved in treating, caring for, and recovering from Polio such as himself.
Salk determined there were three different types of Polio, and was able to develop a "killed virus" vaccine for the disease.
The clinical testing began in 1952, mostly given to children. Roughly 1.8 million children were given the vaccine during the test phase. He administered the vaccine to himself, his wife, and sons. He was supported by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
When the vaccine was approved for general use in 1955, he was hailed as a national hero, and was celebrated at the White House by President Eisenhower. The US had 57,000 cases in 1952. Within 10 years, that number fell to less than 1,000.
In the early 60's, the Salk vaccine was replaced by the Albert Sabin live virus vaccine, which was cheaper to make, supposedly more effective, and easier to use.(debatable)
In the early 60's, the Salk vaccine was replaced by the Albert Sabin live virus vaccine, which was cheaper to make, supposedly more effective, and easier to use.(debatable)
Moving on, Salk established his own research team at the Salk Center to take on Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. He studied AIDS and HIV later in his career.
One thing which is highly notable was Salk's refusal to patent his Vaccine. Had he done so, he would have made 7 billion dollars, given its world wide usage. When asked who owned the patent years later, he said, "the people I'd say. There is no patent. Could you patent the Sun?"
One thing which is highly notable was Salk's refusal to patent his Vaccine. Had he done so, he would have made 7 billion dollars, given its world wide usage. When asked who owned the patent years later, he said, "the people I'd say. There is no patent. Could you patent the Sun?"
Now, take this report on Salk, and think about how this compares to today. Look at the insane greed of the Big Pharma, the for-profit Health Care Conglomerates owned by Private Equity firms, the immoral profiteering by manufacturers and providers of durable medical equipment and PPE. Look at the reliance of the US for supplies made in other countries. Look at the relative underfunding of all medical related Scientific Research as compared to the obscene profits taken by Shareholders in Companies involved in Healthcare, or immoral bailouts of financial markets and Wall Street Banks since 2008.
Look at how the Corporate shills in Congress and the Government are prepared to lie about our current Pandemic to maintain the growth of Stocks.
Look at how the Corporate shills in Congress and the Government are prepared to lie about our current Pandemic to maintain the growth of Stocks.
Look at how we treat our pioneers and leaders who are on the frontlines of fighting the disease. Dr. Salk was honored by President Eisenhower and the American people for his work. Today, Dr. Fauci and other top Public Health official have been subject to withering attacks by Trump, isolated and ignored, to the point where Dr. Fauci and others are forced to have armed security due to death threats from Trump supporters. And not to forget, look at the destructive irrationality of the anti-vaxxers, who would have us treating Pandemics with mud poultices and aromatic oil.
25 years ago today, Jonas Salk passed away. Let us hope that the unique legacy of American Scientific medicine which he embodied did not die with him, as a consequence of the US descent into greedy Corporate looting and anti-science Populist political and religious Cults.
