Albert
B. Sabin,
was born in 1906 Bialystok, Russia. He
arrived in the United States 14 years later and entered the New
Jersey public school system after being tutored in English and
math.Although an uncle offered to pay his way if he would study
dentistry, Sabin preferred to work his way through medical school. He
began his career in biomedical research at New York University, where
he received his M. D. degree. While an Associate Professor of
Pediatrics, and Distinguished Service Professor at the University of
Cincinnati College of Medicine and the Children's Hospital Research
Foundation, Sabin spent the next two decades waging and ultimately
winning the war against polio.
A "killed virus" polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk a few years earlier, was already reducing the incidence of new cases of polio, but Dr Sabin's "live virus" oral vaccine proved more effective. Sabin's vaccine does not require booster doses as Salk's does. It is delivered in a less invasive manner and can protect people who didn't receive the vaccine by spreading a weakened version of the virus which confers immunity to the disease to unvacinated members of the population.
Sabin refused to hold a patent on the vaccine, insisting that both the vaccine and its administration be delivered free of charge. Approximately 100, 000,000 European children received the vaccine while an additional 100,000,000 Americans of all ages were vaccinated in the early sixties. It is estimated that the vaccine prevented 500,000 deaths and 5,000,000 cases of paralytic polio.
Dr. Sabin was recognized with numerous awards and honors for his medical research and was a powerful enemy of poverty and ignorance. Few individuals have contributed as much to the well-being of the world.
Designed by: Adrienne Friedman
The Legacy of Albert B Sabin [Online]. Available at http://www.sabin.georgetown.edu/HISTORY.HTM
Jewish Heroes in America [Online]. Available at http://www.fau.edu/library/br118.htm
'Sabin Sundays' Helped Wipe Out Polio [Online]. Available at http://www.insiders.com/cincinnati/sb-healthcare2.htm