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When was the Salk polio vaccine released for use in the United States?

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The Salk polio vaccine was licensed for public use in the United States on April 12, 1955, immediately following the announcement that it was safe and effective after a nationwide clinical trial involving more than 1.8 million children. Mass vaccination began the same day, marking the start of a rapid decline in polio cases across the country. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) developed by Albert Sabin was licensed in the United States in 1961 and became widely used because it was easy to administer and provided strong community protection.