Poliomyelitis In The 1950's

There was a deadly disease that was sweeping across America in the 1950’s. This disease was known as poliomyelitis or polio. Polio or poliomyelitis is a virus that may cause paralysis and is preventable by polio vaccine. This disease killed over thirteen hundred Americans and a large percentage were children. In the year 1954, this virus infected about 18,000 children. After extensive research, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became aware of Dr. Jonas Salk who on April 12, 1955, had developed a vaccine against the frightening disease.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote a speech on the information recorded by James C. Hagerty, the White House Press Secretary. This speech was directed to the public in effort to bring comfort to their lives