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Salk Polio Vaccine, MEF-1 Strain

National Museum of American History

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Object Details

Salk, Jonas E.
Description
Jonas Salk first tested his polio vaccine on humans in July 1952 when he inoculated thirty children at the D. T. Watson Home for Crippled Children near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These children had already had polio, so Salk's test was designed to prove that his vaccine would create a higher level of immunity than a natural infection. Salk also tested his vaccine on residents of the Polk State Home and on himself and members of his laboratory staff.
This vial contains residue of polio vaccine from these first tests. The polio virus exists in hundreds of different strains, all of which fall into three major types. A complete vaccine must contain a strain from each of these three types. However, the children at the Watson Home received only one type of vaccine matching the strain of their original polio infection. This vial is labeled for the MEF-1 strain (Type II). The MEF-1 polio virus strain was originally isolated in 1942 from incidents of poliomyelitis occurring among the Middle East Forces of the British Army, in Cairo, Egypt.
Credit Line
Gift of The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis
1952
ID Number
MG.221419.06
catalog number
221419.06
accession number
221419
Object Name
vaccine, polio
biological
Other Terms
Vaccine; delete; delete; Drugs
Physical Description
vaccine residue, polio virus (overall, drug ingredient)
rubber; fabric; ink; adhesive (overall material)
glass (overall, container material)
Measurements
overall: 6.5 cm x 2.8 cm; 2 9/16 in x 1 1/8 in
overall: 2 3/8 in x 1 1/8 in; x 6.0325 cm x 2.8575 cm
overall: 2 1/2 in x 1 1/8 in; 6.35 cm x 2.8575 cm
place made
United States: Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh
Related Publication
Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
National Museum of American History. Treasures of American History online exhibition
Related Web Publication
http://americanhistory.si.edu/treasures
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
National Treasures exhibit
Health & Medicine
The Antibody Initiative
Antibody Initiative: Polio
National Museum of American History
subject
Vaccines
Record ID
nmah_874830
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b4-d707-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Related Content

  • Polio

    American History Museum
Salk polio vaccine
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