#TBT: the polio vaccine

#TBT: Elvis Presley received a polio vaccine on live TV to inspire young Americans to do the same...

Transcript

00:00♪♪

00:20The tender years of its usual victims made the disease all the more horrible.

00:25These little ones didn't have a chance.

00:27♪♪

00:41This was the face of a killer, more deadly than any FBI public enemy.

00:45Here magnified 77,000 times was the dreaded crippler,

00:49the scourge of mankind for centuries, the death-dealing virus of polio.

00:53♪♪

01:06Few diseases are capable of causing as much terror

01:10in the hearts and minds of fathers and mothers as infantile paralysis,

01:15not only because from 10 to 30 out of each 100 victims are liable to die,

01:21but likewise because an epidemic of the disease

01:25leaves a trail of large numbers of pitifully crippled individuals

01:30greatly handicapped for the balance of life.

01:33♪♪

01:48I wish to express heartfelt thanks to all of you

01:53who have contributed your dimes and your dollars

01:56to further the fight against a cruel disease,

02:00a disease which strikes primarily against little children.

02:04♪♪

02:13And then the joyous news.

02:15Dr. Thomas E. Francis of the University made the announcement

02:18that the Salk vaccine had proved itself to be safe,

02:21effective, and potent in preventing polio.

02:24♪♪

02:44To Dr. Salk and thousands of his fellow researchers,

02:47we truly owe the strength and sturdy limbs of our future young generations.

02:52♪♪

03:21♪♪

03:47Because of the success of the polio vaccine,

03:51development of vaccines came to be seen by the public as a priority.

03:56Great strides were made protecting babies, children, and adults

04:02from many other deadly and disabling infectious diseases.