Albert Bruce Sabin

Albert Bruce Sabin (1906–1993) was a Polish-American medical researcher best known for developing the oral polio vaccine which has played a key role in nearly eradicating the disease.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Sabin was born in Białystok, Poland, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1921. He completed his medical degree at New York University in 1931.

Career[edit | edit source]

Sabin joined the staff of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in 1935. During World War II, he was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and helped develop vaccines against dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

In the 1950s, Sabin developed an oral vaccine for polio that was both safer and more effective than the existing injectable vaccine developed by Jonas Salk. Sabin's vaccine was made from weakened live virus, which could be taken orally and provided longer-lasting immunity. It was widely used in the U.S. and around the world, leading to a dramatic decrease in cases of polio.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Sabin's work on the polio vaccine has had a lasting impact on global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted his vaccine in the 1960s, and it has been central to their efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. In recognition of his contributions, Sabin received numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Science in 1970.