Table of Contents • I. Poliomyelitis, Treatment, and Prevention Prior to 1955 • II. The Arrival of the Salk Polio Vaccine: Documents, April-July 1955 • A. Optimism Abounds • B. Confronting Challenges • C. Maintaining Momentum • III. Postscript - Polio Prevention after Jonas Salk • IV. Bibliography and Resources • V. Student Assignments • VI. Catalogue of Sources

Section II. The Arrival of the Salk Polio Vaccine: Documents, April-July 1955

A. Optimism Abounds

The success of the field trial made Jonas Salk a celebrity, the face of what the nation viewed as the triumph of science over polio. Members of the scientific community noted that Salk primarily benefited from the discoveries of others and that he seemed too eager to embrace the media attention given him. Regardless, the celebration of Jonas Salk continued, as Video Clip Q illustrates.

Video Clip Q - News Footage of Results of Vaccine Trial and Profile of Jonas Salk, Source and Date Unknown

Ten days after the announcement, President Eisenhower invited Salk and Basil O'Connor, President of the National Foundation, to a ceremony at the White House in their honor. In the printed citation given to Salk and the remarks accompanying them (Documents B and C), Eisenhower described Salk's work as "in the highest tradition of selfless and dedicated medical research," referring to him as a "benefactor of mankind".

Document B - Text of Presidential Citations Given to Jonas Salk and the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, 22 April 1955	Document C - Additional Statements from President Eisenhower at White House Ceremony, 22 April 1955

As Eisenhower's remarks acknowledge, the development of a vaccine was only the first step in efforts to protect the public against polio. Still to be developed was a comprehensive plan to produce and distribute the vaccine, with officials cognizant of the fact that supplies would be limited for some time. Even though there was ample time during the field trial for the federal and state governments, vaccine manufacturers, and the medical and public health communities to begin planning for this possibility, there is no evidence of an organized effort prior to the vaccine's approval.

On the same day as the White House ceremony honoring Salk and the National Foundation, an urgent meeting of stakeholders was held in Washington to develop strategies to address these challenges. The meeting began with remarks by Oveta Culp Hobby, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (Document D). The meeting was not open to the public.

Document D - Remarks by Oveta Culp Hobby at Conference of Vaccine Manufacturers, 22 April 1955

While production and distribution of the vaccine had began at a pace unimaginable by contemporary standards, the already difficult supply and distribution issues became further complicated by concerns that the Salk polio vaccine was not as safe as was originally believed.

Continue to Confronting Challenges