The importance of vaccines.

The Children Who Lived Inside a Machine: The Story of Polio and the Importance of the Vaccine

In the mid-20th century, before the polio vaccine existed, thousands of families lived with a quiet fear. Polio, a viral disease easily transmitted through direct contact or contaminated water and food, affected mainly children. Many could contract the virus without severe symptoms, but others suffered permanent paralysis. The most critical cases were those in which polio paralyzed the respiratory muscles. For these children, breathing on their own became impossible.

In that context, a machine emerged that would change their lives: the iron lung.

Lives Inside a Machine

The iron lung was a large metal cylinder, almost the size of a small wardrobe. The patient was placed inside, leaving only their head outside. This machine used negative pressure to help expand and contract the lungs, mimicking natural breathing. For many children, this device became their home, their shelter, and their life support.

Some lived inside the iron lung for weeks or months. Others spent years, and some even their entire lives. They learned to read, study, socialize, and play from inside the machine. Although they were supported by nurses and family members, the experience was emotionally challenging.

These human stories remind us of both the fragility of health before scientific advancement and the strength and resilience with which so many families faced the disease.

The Development of the Vaccine: A Historic Breakthrough

For decades, doctors and researchers worked to find a way to stop polio. It was in 1955 that Dr. Jonas Salk (a hero) developed the first effective vaccine.

Years later, Albert Sabin, another hero, developed an oral version, which made it easier to vaccinate large populations, even in places with fewer medical resources.

Vaccination campaigns became widespread. In schools, public squares, and community centers, families waited in line to protect their children. In many places, vaccination was accompanied by songs, parades, and educational events. It was a celebration not only of medicine, but of society. The entire community came together with a common goal: that no child would ever need an iron lung again.

Eradication: A Global Achievement

Thanks to vaccination, polio cases began to drop rapidly. In 1988, the World Health Organization launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Since then, the number of cases has fallen by more than 99%. Polio stopped being an everyday threat in most of the world.

Today, only a few places on the planet still report isolated cases, mainly due to interruptions in vaccination campaigns or difficulties in access. This is why completing vaccination schedules and keeping campaigns active remains essential. History reminds us that diseases can return if we stop protecting ourselves.

A Reminder for the Present

When we talk about vaccination, we are not talking only about science, but about humanity. Behind every dose, there are stories of children who could not run, play, or breathe on their own. There are families who lived in fear. There are nurses, doctors, and researchers who worked tirelessly to find a solution.

Remembering the children who lived inside iron lungs invites us to appreciate the advances we often take for granted today. Vaccines do not just prevent diseases. They preserve childhoods, protect dreams, and safeguard the future of society.

Because a vaccine may be small, but its impact spans generations.

We are The IMpatients.

ForYP.