Dr. Albert Sabin

 Dr. Albert Sabin

Dr. Albert Sabin was a physician and researcher who was able to make a vaccine for the poliomyelities virus in the 1950s. We learn that Dr. Jonas Salk's vaccine that used killed polio virus was approved and used successfully. We learn that Dr. Sabin theorized that inactivated or weakened polio virus would lead to a greater immune reaction that would be more effective against the poliomyelitis virus. We learn that Dr. Sabin was able to create another polio virus vaccine to fight against polio virus infection. 

We learn that both vaccines were effective against fighting the polio virus seeing that the number of cases of polio in the 1950s decreased substantially. We learn that this described the two methods that are usually used by researchers to create vaccines. We learn that there is the killed virus method that prevents individuals from obtaining sickness or illness seen in Dr. Salk's polio vaccine that was highly effective and efficient at reducing polio infection. 

We learn that the other method of producing vaccines is the inactivated virus method that uses weakened virus strains to prevent infection and stimulate an immunological response. We learn that both vaccines were researched over 8-10 years and were tested to make sure there were no side effects or adverse reactions to the individual's health. We learn that science can be used to create great discoveries seen in the poliomyelitis vaccines of the 1950s. We learn that since the use of polio vaccines starting with Dr. Salk's vaccine, polio infections decreased significantly. 

We learn that along with penicillin and certain medications in the last century, there were great improvements in health and well being. We can learn about the vaccines in order to guard ourselves from newer vaccines that have not been researched for 8-10 years and have not been tested compared to previous approved and studied vaccines. We can learn that science can help when used with integrity and ethics, while making sure that we do not place all our attention or importance on science. We know that GOD Almighty is LORD and Creator and that instead we worship GOD Almighty who allows us to distinguish truth from false lies. Instead of making science our everything, we can decide to worship GOD Almighty and learn about science with responsibility and integrity so that we guard ourselves from pseudo-science and unresearched medication and vaccines.

Albert Sabin Described the Need to Be Cautious About Unneeded Vaccinations in the 1970s

"He spoke at the University of Toledo on May 17, recommending that the vaccine be made but held in storehouses unless and until it was clear that a deadly swine flu epidemic was in progress."- (page 156)

Albert Sabin who created a successful new vaccine against the poliomyelitis virus, was able to describe hesitancy towards immunizing all of the United States' population with a new vaccine against a virus that had affected a few soldiers in a specific fort in 1976. The virus was considered to be similar to a deadly strain of flu and almost like the flu of 1918. There was a virus that had affected a fort and killed a few soldiers, yet scientists took to create a new vaccine of the virus. While not knowing which virus it was, scientists decided to create a vaccine against the virus for fear that it was similar to the "1918 flu virus". Sabin was an individual that cautioned against giving vaccines when the virus was not known and was not causing severe symptoms and had only infected a few people. While initially scientists attempted to speak on the need to vaccinate in a large scale all of the United States population describing the need of more than 120 million vaccines, we learn that Sabin cautioned against the use of such vaccines. Another physician stated that, "If Americans have flu shots in the numbers predicted [attempting to vaccinate all of the United States population in the 1970s], as many as 2,300 will have strokes and 7,000 will have heart attacks within two days of being immunized."(page 161) In the conclusion of the vaccination program in the 1970's, only 40 million vaccines were applied. 

"Nonetheless, by mid-December, 40 million Americans, a third of the adult population, had had swine flu shots. It was twice as many as before immunized against flu in any single season and it was the largest vaccination program in history."-(page 167)

It was learned that after the vaccines were approved for use, some individuals began to experience vaccine side effects including heart attacks, strokes, and even Guillain-Barré syndrome. Sabin described in the time prior to the vaccines being distributed that there was the need to store the vaccines until there was a true need. Sabin described the need to see if there was a true need for the vaccines instead of vaccinating everyone in the United States. Sabin was able to speak out against the mass vaccination when the specific virus was not known at the time. The reason for vaccinating was because the virus seemed like the "1918 virus" while not actually knowing the specific strains of said virus. In 1977, it was concluded that the mass vaccination of individuals could have caused multiple cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome along with cases of heart attacks and strokes. 

The Flu Virus of 1976 and Mass Vaccination

There was a flu in 1976 that devastated a fort and led to the death of a young soldier. There were four additional cases. Scientists thought that the virus was virulent and could cause significant difficulties. We learn that the scientists decided to create a flu vaccine although the flu strain was not completely known. The flu virus was described similar to a swine flu (although the specific strain was not known). The scientists believed that the flu may be similar to the “1918 flu” that devastated large numbers of people. We learn that in 1976, scientists created a flu vaccine against the virus of 1976. While it was generally agreed that the vaccine was necessary, Albert Sabin was one of the few individuals that expressed the need to hold the vaccine in safe storage until it was known if the virus was potentially virulent and dangerous.

We learn that Albert Sabin voiced his opposition in May 17, 1976, of vaccinating the whole United States population (120 million people) with the 1976 vaccine against the 1976 flu of unknown strain. This was because the virus had only affected a few individuals and was not as virulent compared to the 1918 virus. The option was to store the vaccine in storage until the virus was known to be lethal and virulent. The vaccine was given to 40 million people, and there were more than a few cases of heart attacks, strokes, Guillain Barré syndrome, and other side effects (some reports included multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, polyomyositis…). There were cases of heart problems in individuals who died starting ten days after immunization with the vaccines (page 165). Guillain Barré is a rare disorder that only affects 4,000–5,000 individuals per year, yet 1,100 cases were reported in December 1976 after vaccination with the flu vaccine in October 1st of 1976. (page 167, 168, 174). There is the description that Guillain Barré syndrome can lead to respiratory problems that lead to death in five percent of cases and in ten percent of cases individuals get a type of permanent paralysis. 

Quotes from Flu The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It- Gina Kolata