Exactly 64 years ago, in 1957, a doctor decided not to patent his vaccine so that all pharmaceutical companies could produce it and offer it to all children in the world.
Albert Bruce Sabin was born in Belostok in 1906.
A Jewish physician and virologist, known for discovering a polio vaccine, renounced the patent money, allowing it to spread to everyone, including the poor.
Between 1959 and 1961, millions of children from eastern countries, Asia and Europe were vaccinated: the polio vaccine suppressed the epidemic.
Polio has taken generations away from the face of the earth.
His vaccine, introduced in a sugar cube, changed the history of mankind.
He said: “Many insisted that I patented the vaccine, but I didn’t. This is my gift to all the children of the world.” – and that was his wish.
During the Cold War, Sabin donated his viral strains to Soviet scientist Mikhail Chumakov to allow the development of his vaccine in the Soviet Union.
He continued to live on a salary, not as exciting as a university professor, but with a heart filled with satisfaction for doing so much good to all mankind.