OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaJonas Salk was a medical researcher who became a real-life superhero! He invented the polio vaccine that saved millions of children from a scary disease. Thanks to his hard work, polio is almost completely gone today!
Jonas spent seven years working day and night in his laboratory to find a way to protect children from polio. In 1955, he shared his invention with the world: the very first polio vaccine! A vaccine is like a special medicine that teaches your body how to fight off germs before they can make you sick. The best part is that Jonas did not ask for money for his invention because he wanted every child in the world to be safe!
- Jonas Salk gave away his polio vaccine for free because he wanted to help everyone, not make money!
- He tested the vaccine on himself and his own family first to make sure it was safe.
- Before the vaccine, polio made thousands of children very sick every year, but now it is almost gone!
