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Beginning the decade
Started the decade with the iron lung and physical therapy techniques but not much to directly fight the virus or stop paralysis -
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The Trials
The vaccine trials started at the University of Michigan in 1952 lasting up to 1954 as they received more and more funding through the March of Dimes. -
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Peak of Polio
Polio reached its peak in the U.S. in 1952 with over 21,000 cases being reported across the country and many more being unreported or misdiagnosed. -
News spreads
In 1953 as Polio reached its peak many news and articles started covering basics of what polio was to spread its awareness and how it impacts you or your family. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1354350/m1/2/zoom/?q=polio&resolution=6&lat=5090.718434113162&lon=2074.7707194243258) -
Peak March of Dimes
The fight against polio started rapidly growing and funding to the March of Dimes peaked in 1954 raising $67 million which is the equivalent of $628 million today. -
Justice to Disabled
Following the vaccines, many were still left disabled or paralyzed due to polio and recent wars. Therefore, the U.S. government shifted its focus to the people and began programs and support systems in order to help those who were disabled and paralyzed. Shifting from just veterans to general health for disabled people altogether. https://rdsjournal.org/index.php/journal/article/view/117/385 -
The Vaccine
The first vaccine against polio Salk, also known as IPV, was created in late 1954 and was clinically tested, licensed, and approved. It proved itself to be 60-70% effective against type one strain and up to 90% effective against types two and three. https://www.indianpediatrics.net/supplaug2016/s20.pdf -
The Cutter Incident
Just as the fight against polio using the vaccine began the Cutter Laboratories would go on to make a fatal mistake. The Cutter Laboratories failed to deactivate the live polio virus and disguised as a vaccine was administered to 200,000 children. It caused over 40,000 cases of Polio, leaving 200 with illnesses or paralysis, and killed 10 others. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1383764/ -
The March Continues
While the peak for the March of dimes had already passed many still contributed and pushed funding for better medical respiratory, paralysis, and disabled technology to help support those who were victims or their families. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1333551/m1/7/zoom/?q=polio&resolution=4&lat=1053.568697736766&lon=2700.28692611747 -
Questions still remain
By 1959 Polio began to see a drop in cases across the U.S. however, despite creating the vaccine many were still left to ponder and wonder how the polio impacted the sick and if there would ever be a cure to the illness. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1333576/m1/2/zoom/?q=polio&resolution=6&lat=1863.8316530225802&lon=1812.6185727994866 -
The Future and the world
As we get to 1960 Polio vaccines and new technology began to emerge globally. Not to mention world wide health systems began being reformed. These realities throughout the decade lead researchers such as John Emerson to continue their contributions to medical technology. Emerson continued to create medical equipment such as ventilators, oxygen tents, humidifiers, oxygen therapy tanks, and more. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/290382/20241023-318283-avv35f.pdf