The Polio Crusade | Full Documentary | American Experience | PBS

In the summer of 1950, more than 33,000 Americans were diagnosed with polio—half of them under the age of ten. The ensuing national campaign for a cure would provide breakthroughs in both science and philanthropy. Based in part on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Polio: An American Story” by David Oshinsky, THE POLIO CRUSADE interweaves personal accounts of polio survivors with the story of an ardent crusader who fought tirelessly on their behalf while scientists raced to eradicate this dreaded disease. Official Website: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/polio/ | #AmericanExperiencePBS 00:00 Prologue 04:40 Polio Emerges 10:22 The March of Dimes 13:07 Larry Becker 15:44 A Growing Fear 21:43 Kathryn Black’s Story 23:27 Jonas Salk & Albert Sabin 28:43 Human Testing 32:33 Iron Lung 37:25 Field Trials 40:44 Success 44:42 Cutter Laboratories 48:13 Conclusion © 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation #Polio #Vaccines #History #Documentary This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station: https://www.pbs.org/donate Subscribe to the AMERICAN EXPERIENCE channel for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanExperiencePBS Enjoy full episodes of your favorite AMERICAN EXPERIENCE shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS App: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR FOLLOW AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanExperiencePBS/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/AmExperiencePBS/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AmericanExperiencePBS/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@americanexperiencepbs