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nce it was confirmed to be a viral infection, the medical community began working on the first polio vaccine to prevent its spread. Much of the early research and development took place in the United States.
Early polio vaccine projects (1935)

Unfortunately, initial trials were poorly executed and caused great harm to those involved. Teams of researchers in New York and Philadelphia both administered vaccines containing active poliovirus to tens of thousands of living subjects, including children and chimpanzees. Many subjects became severely ill or paralyzed, experienced allergic reactions, and even died of polio.
Cultivating poliovirus in human tissue (1936)

Scientists in New York City grew the poliovirus in embryonic brain tissue, allowing them to study how the virus spread. However, they were reluctant to create a vaccine in this manner due to the risks associated with using nervous system tissues. This particular study did at least advance the medical community’s understanding of the poliovirus’ ability to multiply.
Koprowski polio vaccine tests (1948-1950)

So when was the polio vaccine invented?

In the late 1940s, Dr. Hilary Koprowski of Lederle Laboratories in Philadelphia successfully administered a vaccine for type 2 poliovirus. He chose to test it on himself and his assistant after trying it on chimpanzees. They both drank the vaccine and observed no adverse effects.
Salk poliomyelitis vaccine trial (1952-1953)

Despite widespread concern over testing the vaccine on live human subjects, the studies continued. In the early 1950s, the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now known as the March of Dimes) funded a study by Dr. Jonas Salk and his team of researchers. They planned to try three different strains of injectable, inactive-virus vaccines on humans.
Vaccination programs suspended (1955)

When the U.S. Surgeon General questioned the safety of the trial vaccine, all polio vaccination programs were brought to a halt. An investigation revealed that it was responsible for 11 deaths, and hundreds of cases of paralysis. Apparently, some of the vaccines may not have been produced according to Salk’s methods and still contained active type 1 poliovirus.
Koprowski OPV test (1957)

Koprowski continued type 1 poliovirus vaccine trials in the former Democratic Republic of Congo, with some degree of success. But political and social unrest in the region prevented his team from conducting follow-up appointments with many of the test subject