The Polio Crisis and the Need for a Vaccine
Poliomyelitis, a terrifying viral infection, routinely swept across the United States every summer, striking fear into communities. The disease was unpredictable, often progressing from a mild, flu-like illness to causing permanent paralysis or death within days. The virus primarily attacked the central nervous system and disproportionately affected children.
Annual epidemics became a recurring national trauma, leading to widespread public panic that disrupted daily life. Cities would close public swimming pools, movie theaters, and playgrounds in a desperate, futile attempt to halt the virus’s spread. The most enduring image of the crisis was the iron lung, a massive ventilator necessary to keep thousands of victims alive after the virus paralyzed their breathing muscles.
The peak of the crisis occurred in 1952, which saw the largest outbreak in U.S. history, infecting nearly 58,000 people and leaving more than 21,000 with varying degrees of paralysis. This staggering human toll established a clear need for a vaccine, not just for the medical community but for the entire population. Research efforts promised a way to end the devastating cycles of fear and suffering.
The Unique Model of Grassroots Funding
Funding the research and patient care needed to combat polio was taken up by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP), founded in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The organization adopted a pioneering fundraising method relying on collective small donations. This strategy was popularized by entertainer Eddie Cantor, who suggested Americans send their spare change directly to the White House.
Cantor’s suggestion gave rise to the enduring name, the “March of Dimes.” The campaign transformed charitable giving into a massive, nationwide movement, asking ordinary citizens to contribute just ten cents at a time. The public responded enthusiastically, sending millions of dimes, often supplemented by small bills and checks, to fund the foundation’s dual mission of patient aid and scientific research.
This grassroots model circumvented the need to rely solely on large corporate grants or government funding, creating a profound sense of public ownership over the fight against the disease. Between 1938 and 1955, the foundation raised over $233 million, demonstrating the success of this mass public appeal. This funding approach made the eventual scientific breakthrough a shared national triumph.
Connecting the Nickname to the Scientific Breakthrough
The public funds directed by the NFIP enabled them to support the work of researchers like Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh. Salk’s team developed an injectable vaccine using a “killed-virus” approach, which safely stimulated an immune response without causing the disease. The foundation oversaw and financed the 1954 Field Trials, which remains the largest peacetime mobilization of volunteers and children in American history.
This massive trial involved 1.8 million schoolchildren, dubbed the “Polio Pioneers.” The results were announced on April 12, 1955, the tenth anniversary of Roosevelt’s death. The announcement declared the Salk vaccine was safe, effective, and potent, leading to an outpouring of national relief. The success was seen as a direct result of the public’s contribution.
The colloquial nickname, the “Dolly Drug,” reflects this unique historical context, embodying the idea of a life-saving medicine that was paid for by the public, including small donations from children. This perception of collective ownership was solidified by Salk’s decision not to patent the vaccine, ensuring it could be distributed widely without the constraint of proprietary profit. When asked who owned the patent, Salk famously replied, “The people, I would say.”
The vaccine’s availability, due to the March of Dimes’ efforts, marked a turning point in public health. Following its adoption, the number of new polio cases plummeted by 80 percent within a few years. The vaccine’s success remains a powerful example of how sustained grassroots philanthropy can directly translate into a profound scientific and societal benefit.