Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin in Their Search for a Vaccine for Polio - Assignment Example

Essay on Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin in their search for a vaccine for Polio Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin were both born to Jewish parents, and their origins can be traced back to Russia. Salk was born in New York in 1914 to illiterate parents, who were determined to see their children succeed. He joined the City College of New York where he intended to study law, but was intrigues by the study of medical science. Sabin, on the other hand, was born in Russia in 1906, and migrated with his family to the United States where he became a naturalized citizen in 1930. He attended the New York University, where he received his medical degree before training in medicine, pathology and surgery at Bellevue Hospital in New York. Sabin was involved in the research for preventive medicine in England, after which he joined the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research. Sabin was specifically intrigued by research in infectious diseases. Notably, Salk was also interested in research, in viruses that caused infectious diseases while attending his medical school at the New York University, he was invited to investigate the virus that causes the flu i.e., influenza. Salk helped in developing the influenza vaccine during the Second World War (Smith p.23). Salk was appointed to the University of Pitsburgh Medical School where he worked alongside the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis. While working at the University of Pitsburgh Medical School, Salk assembled a team involving physicians, public health officers and school teachers. For a period of eight years, this team immersed itself in the development of development of the polio vaccine; they were determined to find out the number of different polio viruses and develop a vaccine that effectively prevented polio infection without infecting the patient. In 1955, Salk’s years of research finally paid off when he formulated a vaccine derived from “killed” polio viruses (Smith p.35). This vaccine was administered through injection and was initially tested on school children. Salk did not patent the vaccine as his reason for its development was to suppress the polio threat that had destroyed the lives of Americans and the world population. Sabin, on the other hand, helped to develop a virus against Japanese encephalitis during the Second World War working as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S Army Medical Corps. He then moved to Israel for a few years, but upon his return to the U.S, he joined the Medical University of South Carolina before moving to Washington, D.C where he became a resident at John. E. Forgarty International Center. With polio infections on an increase, Sabin sought a vaccine to prevent and destroy it. Sabin and a team of other researchers developed the oral vaccine which consisted weakened polio viruses. The oral vaccine was tested at the Chilliocothe Ohio Reformatory, where is sadly infected some patients. The research team perfected the vaccine, and it was subsequently tested on millions of people in the USSR, Eastern Europe and Mexico among other nations. The oral vaccine was not widely accepted in the U.S as many preferred Salk’s “killed virus” vaccine to Sabin’s live vaccine (Foroud p.54). Further research proved that Salk’s vaccine was only effective in mitigating the complications associated with polio, but the patients were still at risk of infection. On the other hand, Sabin’s oral vaccine was proved effective in infection prevention and in mitigating the complications of the disease. Sabin’s vaccine was developed to concentrate in the intestines, as during his research Sabin realized that the polio virus multiplied and attacked from the intestines. Whereas Salk’s vaccine was particularly used in the U.S where the polio epidemic was almost eradicated, Sabin’s oral vaccine was commonly used on the severely infected Japanese community through Sabin’s partnership with the USSR. Sabin and Salk both made significant strides in the field of medical research. Sabin is associated with the development of vaccines against encephalitis and dengue. He was also investigating the link between viruses and some forms of cancer. Furthermore, he had developed calcification of the cervical spine that resulted in paralysis and monumental pain, which led to his intention of finding ways to relieve pain. Sabin’s outstanding achievements in medical research are best depicted by Dr. John. P's, "No man has ever contributed so much effective information and so continuously over so many years to so many aspects of poliomyelitis as Sabin." (Paul p.56). Sabin later became a medical spokesperson and academic; teaching against ignorance. Salk’s contribution to medical research cannot be downplayed either; he wrote various books in the field and was also involved in researching for a vaccine against HIV at the time of his death. Salk also founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, which to date is a valuable center for medical research. Both researchers were significantly awarded for their contributions in medical research. For instance, a month after developing the first successful polio vaccine, Salk was awarded by the Commonwealth of Pennyslavia for his service to the world. In 1958, both Salk and Sabin were elected to the Polio Hall of Fame. Salk was named the Humanist of the Year in 1967 by the American Humanist Association. He later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Sabin also received the National Medal for Science and the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1986. In conclusion, we note that although Sabin tried opposed the use of Salk’s vaccine, we note that these men have many similarities that set them apart from other researchers. Both researchers had a deep interest in medical research, which resulted in development of various vaccines. They were also actively engaged in teaching what they knew best; medical research. Salk’s vaccine which mainly used in the U.S was distributed through the United States government as opposed to Sabin’s which was distributed in Japan through the USSR. Both researchers tested their vaccines on school children, through the support of school personnel. We further note that both researchers were active developing vaccines during the Second World War; Salk investigated the influenza virus while Sabin developed a vaccine for Japanese encephalitis. In their individual research, both scientists engaged teams of researchers, although Salk used non-medical practitioners such as school personnel and volunteers. Works cited Horaud, F. Albert B. Sabin and the development of oral polio vaccine: Biologicals 21 (4): 311–6, 1993. Print. Smith, J. S. Patenting the Sun: Polio and the Salk Vaccine. New York: William Morrow, 1990. Print. David, M.O. Polio an American Story. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2005. Print. Read More