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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2011 — Following is the daily “Profile America” feature from the U.S. Census Bureau: Profile America — Friday, October 28th. One of the heroes of American medical research was born on this date in 1914 — Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed a vaccine against polio. Because most of its victims were children, many of whom suffered paralysis, the disease was widely feared by the public. Polio peaked in 1952, with 3,000 dead and over 21,000 paralyzed. Salk’s program had extensive field tests of his vaccine — including injecting himself and his family. The success was announced April 12, 1955, and caused widespread celebrations as if a war had been won. The vaccine caused an immediate and dramatic drop in polio cases. Now, almost 94 percent of children have been immunized against the disease. Profile America is in its 15th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Sources: Chase’s Calendar of Events 2011, p. 534
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 188
Web Site: http://www.census.gov
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