On 6 October 1956, Dr Albert Sabin made a groundbreaking announcement that his oral polio vaccine was ready for human trials.
Unlike Jonas Salk’s injectable vaccine, Sabin’s innovation promised a more accessible and affordable solution to combat polio, with the potential for mass immunisation via a simple oral dose.
The vaccine, utilising a weakened form of the virus, would later become the preferred method of immunisation in many parts of the world due to its ease of administration and long-lasting immunity, marking a pivotal moment in the global fight against polio.