Jonas Salk Gives Away the Polio Vaccine
From 1955 · a Good News classic
On April 12, 1955, the world learned the Salk vaccine worked. Church bells rang, factories paused, and parents wept in the streets — polio had paralyzed tens of thousands of children a year. Asked on television who held the patent, Jonas Salk answered: 'The people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?' Within decades, polio was gone from most of the world.
Claim check
What each side asserts, disputes — or leaves out entirely.
Where do you land?
Whose framing of this story rings truest to you?
Coverage
Comments
Ask this story anything:
Free account · your comment posts right after signup