JONAS SALK

October 28, the 100th birth anniversary of the man who created World's first polio vaccine- Jonas Salk. He was borne in NewYork on October 28, 1914. 

Jonas salk thought to have chosen polio as his target as the disease was threatening to become an epidemic in America post World War II. Every year the disease would claim more lives and lead to varying degrees of paralysis in a larger number of people. This disease was particularly devasting because it primarly affected children.

Preliminary testing of the polio vaccine began in 1952. The testing expanded over the next two years, making it one of the largest clinical trials in the medical history. Roughly 2 million children were given the vaccine during the test phase. Salk's effort were supported and promoted by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. The vaccine was approved for general use in 1955.

Salk died in La Jolla, California on June 23, 1995.