Conquering the polio epidemic

Near the start of the 20th century, a mysterious and deadly virus terrified Americans, particularly infecting young kids: Polio. Correspondent Rita Braver looks at the scientific arsenal brought to combat the epidemic and develop a vaccine, and talks with documentary filmmaker Carl Kurlander ("The Shot Felt 'Round the World"); Dr. Paul Duprex, who is trying to replicate Dr. Jonas Salk’s success in his research for a vaccine for COVID-19; and Joanne Yager, who survived polio as a teenager and now, at 83, runs a support group for polio survivors in Arizona called Polio Epic Tucson.

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[bonita]

My Dad has polio in 1924. He was left walking with brace and cane. As soon as the vaccine was ready we were in line at school to get it. I remember it some 50 years later. It was a big deal for us as a family.

[dentheocean]

I have been saying since this Covid 19 Pandemic started that it reminds me of Polio. When I was a teenager I saw an iron lung in a German hospital, I am in my 50ies now and I still have nightmares about this contraption knowing that it saved thousands and thousands of lives. Thank you Jonas Salk, I am hoping that the world will see another Jonas Salk moment for Covid 19

[guadalupedodd]

I was only 8 months old, when i contacted polio.
But i only got it on my right leg.
but mother made sure that i would be just as normal as everyone else.
I am now 70 yrs old and in a wheelchair, but i did get married for times, and had
4 children, all are grown up. 2 girls & 2 boys
and I lost one with a misscarge.
Love all of them even the one i misscarage.

[nicolevanbeek]

My dad got polio when he was six and now battling post polio syndrome. The vaccine was new and my grandparents didn't want to vaccine my dad and his brothers. After my dad got polio, his parents then decided to vaccinate his other 3 brothers.

[RajanDevkota]

Thank you Dr. Salk and all the pioneers, the world will be indebted to you always.

[mortechrome]

My mother-in-law survived polio in the early 40s(she was a teen) she was bedridden for months and suffered some muscle athropy in her wrists/arms but otherwise was lucky to recover relatively well compared to many others. She was very keen her children all got vaccinated.

[rhydianthh]

polio sounds soo much scarier than COVID-19 or Coronavirus

[cashyyvibez]

Wow I’m reading the stories in the comments and it just makes me think about how I’ll look back at the past. I’m 22 and I can imagine being older telling my grandkids about the covid pandemic! Thanks for sharing your stories!

[torrentialrage]

My grandfather had polio and then post polio syndrome.

[miriambucholtz]

I remember how terrified my mother was of polio back in the early 50s. When the school I went to was chosen for vaccine trials in 1954, I remember bringing the permission slip to participate home to her and demanding that she sign it so I could fight polio. I was a 7-year-old second grader at the time. I still have my card and my pin proclaiming that I am a polio pioneer for taking part. If I never do anything else in my life, at least I was one of the many who helped conquer this disease.

[LM]

History will usually tell you what happens next

[JohnDoe-sldi]

If we had Facebook in the 1950s we would still have polio in the USA

[quagapp]

But this is a very good short documentary. It is great that Salk and Sabin refused to take money or profits from the vacinne: Here is Sabin's approach: "Sabin refused to patent his vaccine, waiving every commercial
exploitation by pharmaceutical industries, so that the low price would guarantee a more extensive spread of the treatment..."

[brpang]

History just repeats for people who forget. What about those who didn't even get close to understand history? They go out to street and trust people next to them, equally ignorant.

[wonderglory]

My dad had polio when he was a young boy. He eventually recovered from it, thanks in part to Sister Kenny.

[hwy]

I had polio in 1959 . Not sure what month i got sick. I was 3 when I got sick and was in Childrens hospital Los Angeles for 3 1/2 months. It freaked everyone out because the vaccine was already available. That is when they figured out somehow I got it from vaccine . I have no lasting problems. It was kind of mild because it was from the vaccine. I remember all of it . I remember how my leg hurt . I can remember the pain. My leg was drawn up to my chin . I was in traction for the 3 1/2 months.

[marquetteregionalhistorycenter]

During the outbreak, Michigan's Upper Peninsula was said to have one of the most sever rates of polio, having 320 confirmed cases. At one point, 13 people required an Iron Lung to survive, but only 1 commercial respirator was available in the UP. A few Yoopers got together to build more - using a wooden cabinet, a vacuum cleaner, and a record player (to make it automatic). State Troopers and other community members drove hours around the UP to pick up kids and bring them to St. Lukes Hospital in Marquette where the best help, and respirators, were.

[beckypeters]

My uncle got polio when he was younger he walked with a severe limp and had bowel and bladder issues and went into the Navy and was in the Navy 25 years retired a LT Commander

[brega]

I remember the lonely years, the emphasis on sanitation and quarantines. No swimming pools, rollar rinks shut down and finally the Salk vaccine by injection.

[calrastall]

I love this TV show. One day I'll have more time to actually watch it.