Testing the Polio Vaccine
After viewing a March of Dimes video of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz encouraging people to donate money to fund the testing of the polio vaccine, University of California at Berkeley historian of medicine Elena Conis discussed the testing process and resistance to vaccines at the time.
Description
After viewing a March of Dimes video of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz encouraging people to donate money to fund the testing of the polio vaccine, University of California at Berkeley historian of medicine Elena Conis discussed the testing process and resistance to vaccines at the time.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- How did celebrities contribute to the effort to develop and promote the polio vaccine?
- Describe how the polio vaccine was tested for safety and effectiveness.
- What was public’s overall perception of the polio vaccine? Why do you think this was?
- Why were some people resistant to getting the polio vaccine? What was the impact of this resistance?
Additional Resources
Participants
Vocabulary
- Coronavirus
- Immune Response
- Infantile Paralysis
- Inoculated
- March Of Dimes
- Vaccine