Albert Sabin

Gallo, Robert C. and Sabin, Albert B

Error creating thumbnail:

Eleanor Roosevelt, Albert Sabin, Jonas Salk, and Basil O'Connor at The Infantile Paralysis Hall of Fame in Warm... - NARA - 196188

Error creating thumbnail:

2008-10-05 05 Cincinnati architecture the University of Cincinnati's CARECrawley Building

Albert Sabin (August 26, 1906 – March 3, 1993) was a Polish-American medical researcher, best known for developing the oral polio vaccine which has played a key role in nearly eradicating poliomyelitis globally. His work on the vaccine represents a significant achievement in the field of medicine and virology, offering a safer and more practical alternative to the earlier polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk.

Early Life and Education

Albert Sabin was born in Białystok, then part of the Russian Empire, now in Poland. In 1921, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Paterson, New Jersey. Sabin received his medical degree from New York University in 1931, where he was drawn to research in infectious diseases and virology.

Career and Research

After completing his medical degree, Sabin conducted significant research at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (now Rockefeller University), where he focused on viral encephalitis, dengue fever, and other infectious diseases. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, where his research contributed to the development of a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis.

Sabin's most notable achievement came in the 1950s and 1960s with the development of an oral vaccine against polio. Unlike the Salk vaccine, which was administered via injection and contained an inactivated virus, Sabin's vaccine used a weakened but live poliovirus. Administered orally, it was not only easier to distribute and administer but also provided longer-lasting immunity. The Sabin vaccine was instrumental in the near-eradication of polio in many parts of the world.

Legacy

Albert Sabin's contributions to medical science and public health are immense. His oral polio vaccine has saved countless lives and has brought the world closer to the goal of completely eradicating polio. Sabin received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the National Medal of Science in 1970. He continued to conduct research and advocate for vaccine use until his death in 1993.

Death and Posthumous Recognition

Albert Sabin died on March 3, 1993, in Washington, D.C. His legacy lives on through the continued use of his polio vaccine and the ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease worldwide. He is remembered as a pioneer in virology and a savior of millions of lives.