The Announcement
"It is safe, and you can't get safer than safe." - Jonas Salk's replied when questioned.
On April 12, 1955, Dr. Thomas Francis presented the findings of Dr. Salk's polio vaccine. In the year before, 1.8 million school children were given the vaccine for a field trial. The findings from the field trial were evaluated at the University of Michigan Polio Evaluation Center by Dr. Francis. From the stage of the Rackham Auditorium at the University of Michigan. Dr. Francis read the report of the effectiveness of the vaccine in front of prominent scientist and anxious reporters.
|
Courtesy of The March of DImes
April 12, 1955The date April 12, 1955 was chosen because it was the tenth anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt's death. Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of the most famous polio victims, was the founder of the March of Dimes. Lawyer, Basil O'Connor was the president of the March of Dimes. He joined Salk, Francis, and other polio experts on stage, although the day clearly belonged to Francis and Salk.
|