Elvis & Polio... Who Knew?
Sixty four years ago today, Elvis Presley got a polio vaccine on the 42nd birthday of the scientist who created that vaccine- Dr. Jonas Salk.
At the time that Dr. Salk perfected his vaccine, Elvis Presley was quickly on his way to becoming one of America’s most famous stars, and was particularly popular among teenagers. Hoping to harness his popularity for this cause, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis asked Elvis if he would get the polio vaccine on-camera to help raise awareness and to encourage teens to get the vaccine themselves (teenagers, who were also vulnerable to polio, were not getting the vaccine). Elvis was scheduled to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show. Before the show began, Elvis was filmed and photographed receiving the vaccine. The video played on national television and the photos appeared in newspapers around the country. He would continue to promote polio vaccination in the coming years, recording special advocacy messages, and endorsing events aimed at awareness.
According to the CDC, "Thanks to the polio vaccine, dedicated healthcare professionals, and parents who vaccinate their children on schedule, polio has been eliminated in this country for more than 30 years. This means that there is no year-round transmission of poliovirus in the United States."
Happy 96th Birthday Dr. Salk.
"There is hope in dreams, imagination,
and in the courage of those
who wish to make those dreams a reality."
-Dr. Jonas Salk
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