Jonas Salk death... Polio vaccine discoverer...
Item # 726414
June 24, 1995
LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 24, 1995
* Jonas Salk - American virologist Death
* Polio - Infantile Paralysis virus vaccine fame
The bottom of the front page has a two column heading: "Jonas Salk, Whose Vaccine Conquered Polio, Dies at 80" with photo. The top of page 26 has a banner heading: "SALK: Scientist whose Vaccine Conquered Polio Dies" with a photo during his younger years. (see images)
Complete 1st section only with 34 pages, nice condition.
Background: The successful development and 1955 licensing of the Salk polio vaccine represents a watershed moment in medical history, marking the first time a major infectious scourge was systematically dismantled through a coordinated, large-scale scientific effort. At a time when polio caused tens of thousands of cases of paralysis annually and forced the closure of public spaces, Salk’s "killed-virus" approach—which utilized formaldehyde to neutralize the virus while maintaining its ability to trigger an immune response—shattered the prevailing scientific dogma that only live-attenuated vaccines were effective. The achievement was not merely technical but also a landmark of civic mobilization; the 1954 field trials involved an unprecedented 1.8 million "Polio Pioneers" and was funded largely by grassroots donations to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now the March of Dimes). By choosing not to patent the formulation, Salk ensured the vaccine became a global public good, leading to a 90% reduction in polio cases within just a few years and establishing the modern framework for mass immunization campaigns that continue to save millions of lives today.
* Jonas Salk - American virologist Death
* Polio - Infantile Paralysis virus vaccine fame
The bottom of the front page has a two column heading: "Jonas Salk, Whose Vaccine Conquered Polio, Dies at 80" with photo. The top of page 26 has a banner heading: "SALK: Scientist whose Vaccine Conquered Polio Dies" with a photo during his younger years. (see images)
Complete 1st section only with 34 pages, nice condition.
Background: The successful development and 1955 licensing of the Salk polio vaccine represents a watershed moment in medical history, marking the first time a major infectious scourge was systematically dismantled through a coordinated, large-scale scientific effort. At a time when polio caused tens of thousands of cases of paralysis annually and forced the closure of public spaces, Salk’s "killed-virus" approach—which utilized formaldehyde to neutralize the virus while maintaining its ability to trigger an immune response—shattered the prevailing scientific dogma that only live-attenuated vaccines were effective. The achievement was not merely technical but also a landmark of civic mobilization; the 1954 field trials involved an unprecedented 1.8 million "Polio Pioneers" and was funded largely by grassroots donations to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now the March of Dimes). By choosing not to patent the formulation, Salk ensured the vaccine became a global public good, leading to a 90% reduction in polio cases within just a few years and establishing the modern framework for mass immunization campaigns that continue to save millions of lives today.
Category: The 20th Century
