The Discovery Of Polio Vaccine Essay - 2213 Words

In the early 1900s, scientists and medical personnel did not have an answer to poliomyelitis, otherwise known as polio. However, a breakthrough was reached when Jonas Salk managed to developed the first vaccine, which he brought to the public in 1955 after testing the drug on himself, family, and others. Salk developed a killed-virus vaccine through tissue-culture methods discovered by the scientist John Enders. Unfortunately, Salk’s vaccine was not the cure that the scientific community, and the world, had hoped for, as the results of the vaccine took a critical turn for the worse shortly after release. According to Naomi Rogers, Cutter Laboratories, one of the original mass producers of Salk’s polio vaccine, released many faulty vaccines which resulted in greatly diminishing Salk’s reputation: â€Å"Both Salk’s and the Foundation’s reputations were briefly tarnished by what became termed the Cutter incident. Within fifteen days of Francis’s April 1955 report, the Foundation’s worst fears seemed to be realized when cases of paralysis were reported among children who had received the vaccine. After federal officials from the Communicable Disease Center established that these cases were the result of vaccination from a batch prepared by Cutter Laboratories of Berkeley, California, Surgeon-General Leonard Scheele halted the vaccination program for a week.† (Rogers 180) The fears brought upon by the Cutter incident led to the rise of alternative research, in particular that ofShow MoreRelatedThe Discovery Of The Polio Vaccine1963 Words   |  8 Pagespaper the discovery of the Polio vaccine will be discussed and broken down into deeper thought on why and how it was discovered. Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease that reached epidemic levels in the mid twentieth century. People that were unfortunate to receive this disease faced hardships including fevers, sore throat and vomiting(Allaby). These are just symptoms but Polio can be a vicious disease leaving their patients paralyzed. The majority of people who are diagnosed with Polio don’t getRead MoreThe Polio Vaccine Essay1082 Words   |  5 PagesThe Polio Vaccine The discovery of the polio vaccine was an important medical and scientific breakthrough because it saved many lives since the 1950s. In the summer of 1916 the great polio epidemic struck the United states. By the 1950s hundreds of thousands of people had been struck by the poliomyelitis. The highest number of cases occurred in 1953 with over 50,000 people infected with the virus. When hygienic conditions were poor polio attacked infants. The disease was spread by contaminatedRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Polio During The Egyptian Era1586 Words   |  7 Pageswithout warning. It wasn’t until research skills and technology accessibility improved that scientists were able to grasp the idea that it was all caused by the Poliomyelitis virus. Polio began ravaging through the world in the twentieth century, crippling children, and, even after the discovery of numerous vaccines, is still relentless enough that it infects children today. Poliomyelitis, also called â€Å"infantile paralysis† (Swanson 1), is a virus that has been around for over 3,000 years, but hadRead MoreThe Use Of Animals And Animal Consumption1691 Words   |  7 Pagesmore advancements have been made in medical research than in any prior era. Diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, malaria, and smallpox can now be either prevented or treated due to pharmaceutical research that involved the use of animals. The use of animals in scientific research is important because the use of animals has allowed there to be many advancements in the medical field, such as discovering vaccines for deadly diseases, and has allowed for the regulation of chemicals that may be harmful forRead MoreThe Polio Vaccine Through The Eyes Of Its Creator1218 Words   |  5 Pagescreation of the polio vaccine through the eyes of its creator. Salk also describes his childhood and the events that lead up to his medical breakthrough. Latour, Bruno , Steve Woolgar, and Jonas Salk. Introduction. Laboratory Life. 1986.Reprint. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986. 11. Print. It showed the way that Jonas Salk studied polio and how he came to the conclusion that the vaccine was correct. He also taught that it is a life taking job and that polio vaccine was a difficultRead MoreVaccines Prevent The Human Race1697 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Vaccines prevent an estimated 2.5 million deaths among children younger than age 5 every year, [however;] 1 child dies every 20 seconds from a disease that could have been prevented by a vaccine† (Global Health Security: Immunization). Providing immunity to human, vaccines have saved countless lives through one simple injecting and have eradicated many diseases that used be common among people. Vaccines is the solution and allow us to be able to combat diseases that have overwhelmed humans for centuriesRead MorePolio And Its Effects On Children1387 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å" I got it [polio] when I was a little girl. My parents watch as I slowed down and my hand stopped working. We couldn’t afford the sur gery to fix it, but I finally better. But my hand is a constant remember, but I refuse to let it stop me.†(6) Poliomyelitis, deriving from Greek meaning grey and marrow. Which more than likely refers to the spinal cord, along with the suffix –itis or inflammation.(4) For a time, Poliomyelitis was once was called infantile paralysis because of its primary effects onRead MoreVaccines And The Diseases Of Vaccines1542 Words   |  7 PagesVaccines and the diseases they are used for have been an incredible scientific feat that has changed the way we live drastically. Before vaccines, people were dying rapidly from many diseases that are now either eradicated or controlled. Vaccines have saved millions of lives and are continuing to do so today. People no longer live in fear of catching a disease from other people due to vaccinations and what they do to the body. Diseases come in all shapes and sizes, and science has been able to successfullyRead MoreVaccines And Its Effect s On Children1339 Words   |  6 PagesNowadays, there are many vaccines invented by different scientists. Vaccines are so much in demand that even a simple flu has a certain vaccine. They have been invented to protect us. Its main function is to build our immune system and allow it to work against different kinds of bacteria. However instead of helping us fight against infection and certain diseases, vaccines can be the main cause of infection and diseases. Because of its live-attenuated organism, which means the pathogens were partiallyRead MoreWhat Is Poliomyelitis?1564 Words   |  6 PagesWHAT IS POLIO? Poliomyelitis or polio, is highly contagious viral infection that can lead to abnormal conditions such as paralysis, breathing problems, or even lead to death. The poliomyelitis is from the word â€Å"grey†, myelos referencing to the â€Å"matter† of the spinal cord, -itis meaning inflammation. So it means the inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord. Poliomyelitis can be categorize as either asymptomatic or symptomatic. About