Jonas Salk

Jonas Salk was an American doctor and scientist. He was born in New York City in 1914. He created the first successful vaccine for polio. His vaccine protected millions of children from this terrible disease.

Early Life

Salk was the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants. He was a very good student. He studied medicine at New York University. He became interested in creating vaccines to prevent diseases.

Big Achievements

In the 1950s, polio was one of the most feared diseases. It could leave children unable to walk. Salk developed a safe vaccine and tested it on almost two million children. It worked, and he became a hero. He never patented the vaccine because he wanted everyone to have it.

Fun Facts

• Salk tested the vaccine on himself and his own family first.
• When asked who owned the patent, he said, 'The people. Could you patent the sun?'
• He later started the Salk Institute, which is still an important research center.

Did You Know?

Before Salk's vaccine, parents were so afraid of polio that they kept children away from swimming pools and movie theaters in summer. After the vaccine, polio was almost completely wiped out.