Which vaccine, introduced in 1961, was the first widely used oral polio vaccine?

The Sabin vaccine, introduced in 1961, was the first widely used oral polio vaccine.

It was developed by Polish-American physician and virologist Albert Sabin. Unlike Jonas Salk’s injected inactivated polio vaccine, the Sabin vaccine used live poliovirus that had been weakened so it could stimulate immunity without usually causing disease.

The vaccine was given by mouth, often on a sugar cube, making mass campaigns easier, especially for children. It also produced strong intestinal immunity, which helped reduce poliovirus transmission. This feature made it particularly valuable in eradication campaigns.

The Sabin and Salk vaccines are sometimes confused because both helped control polio. The Salk vaccine came first, in 1955, while the oral Sabin vaccine followed and became central to global polio elimination efforts.