In the 1950s there was more going on than just a new music craze.

In 1952 the feared pandemic virus Polio was rampant. The United States alone had 3,145 deaths and over 50,000 reported cases. We stress the word reported because nothing compares with the mass reporting, both real and fake, in today’s world.

In 1952 few homes even had television and news coverage was very isolated. It is hard for people even in their 30s and 40s to imagine a world without 24-hour news and sports channels, although many of us wish we could go back to those days so the talking heads would have less pressure to make up their own news and might stick to facts.

If 57,879 cases were reported, it is possible the realistic number was double that or more.

Sunday, April 12 marks the 65th anniversary of the government granting approval for what became known as the Salk vaccine, declaring it safe and effective.

This remarkable anniversary is gaining attention because it was the last big scare of a disease feared to be a possible pandemic except maybe AIDS, which people believed was more isolated to a specific cause and lifestyle (but still horrible and feared).

Polio was known for attacking children and putting them in need of iron lung machines, and even if they recovered the paralysis could remain with them throughout their life spans.

Parents were terrified. Pittsburgh, and more specifically Pittsburgh children, were the test field for the vaccine. Parents put their trust in the hands of Dr. Jonas Salk and his team of doctors when they needed real, live children to inoculate and study.

Why Pittsburgh?

Dr. Salk being here is surely most of the reason but so is the braveness of the Pittsburgh region and the mentality which has always been here for people to help others and to solve problems.

Pittsburgh people would never stand idly by while anything harms our children.

There are many parallels to polio and the coronavirus. COVID-19 already has killed more in New York City than died on 9/11. It is not yet contained and, like polio, will remain a threat forever as it could become dormant until raising its ugly head again years down the road.

The World Health Organization still is actively trying to immunize the few countries in the world that still have active cases of polio. Rotary International has been involved with this effort for more than 30 years and raised hundreds of millions of dollars, yet we know it is only one airline flight away from returning here or anywhere.

We don’t know what the answer is yet to COVID-19, but because of the success of the fight against polio, we have some good basis for how to manage such a disease.

The reason we do goes back to those 7,500 kids and parents who took such a big risk in the 50s. Because of them the rest of the world lined up and confidently swallowed a sugar cube with the vaccine on it. We recall the line which we walked to receive that lifesaving medicine. Sixty-five years after its approval it is recognized as a wonder drug.

Will we soon have a new wonder drug? If we do Pittsburgh is as likely as anywhere to find the answer the world is seeking. As you fall asleep this holiest of weekends, please remember to pray thankfully for the blessing of those involved in the research and final implementation of the destroyer of COVID-19.

— RV