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Jonas Salk's nephew says his uncle would 'be right in there' in the fight against COVID-19

Connecticut Public Radio | By John Henry Smith
Published November 1, 2021 at 6:21 PM EDT
A syringe is filled with a first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccination clinic during a back to school event offering school supplies, Covid-19 vaccinations, face masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles, California on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
/
AFP
A syringe is filled with a first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at a mobile vaccination clinic during a back to school event offering school supplies, Covid-19 vaccinations, face masks, and other resources for children and their families at the Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in Los Angeles, California on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Today, in 2021, we fear catching COVID-19.

In the 1950’s, Americans feared coming down with Polio.

The nation was afraid to go outdoors for fear of contracting the paralysis inducing virus.

However, the Centers for Disease Control states that we haven’t seen a single case of polio in America since 1979.

The late Dr. Jonas Salk is the man credited in the 50’s with developing the first widely used polio vaccine.

In light of October 28th being Dr. Salk's 107th birthday, we invited his nephew to speak on "All Things Considered."

Dr. Eric Salk is an emergency physician at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington.

He spoke about what his famous Uncle would think about our current pandemic and about today's hostility towards science.
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John Henry Smith
John Henry Smith is Connecticut Public’s host of All Things Considered, its flagship afternoon news program. He's proud to be a part of the team that won a regional Emmy Award for The Vote: A Connecticut Conversation. In his 21st year as a professional broadcaster, he’s covered both news and sports.
See stories by John Henry Smith

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