In 1961, Dr. Albert Sabin introduced an oral polio vaccine (OPV), a critical advancement in the fight against poliomyelitis.

Unlike Jonas Salk’s earlier injectable vaccine, Sabin’s vaccine used a live, attenuated (weakened) form of the poliovirus. Administered orally, this vaccine was easier to distribute and administer, making mass immunization campaigns more accessible, especially in developing countries.

The oral vaccine not only provided strong, long–lasting immunity but also helped reduce transmission of the virus through the population by inducing immunity in the intestines, where poliovirus replicated. Sabin’s OPV became the preferred method for polio eradication efforts globally and played a major role in drastically reducing polio cases worldwide.

Dr. Leroy Burney, born and raised in Burney, Indiana, approved the use of the Sabin oral vaccine for polio as Surgeon General in 1960.