Original version

BBC World Service News Internet

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: The polio vaccine

Documentaries

The polio vaccine

11/03/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The polio vaccine

Scientists in the US led by Dr Jonas Salk develop an effective vaccine against polio

In 1955, scientists in the US led by Dr Jonas Salk develop an effective vaccine against polio.

In 1955 scientists in the US led by Dr Jonas Salk announced they had developed an effective vaccine against polio. The poliomyelitis virus had caused paralysis and death particularly amongst children since time immemorial. Louise Hidalgo spoke to Dr Salk's son Peter, who was one of the first children to be vaccinated by his father, and to a nurse who worked on the polio vaccination programme.

PHOTO: Jonas Salk innoculating his son, Peter (Courtesy of March of Dimes)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

The polio vaccine

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service News Internet

About BBC World Service