Who remembers receiving the polio vaccine on a sugar cube?

@jerzgirl (9410)
United States
July 18, 2026 9:42pm CST
Jonas Salk created the first immunization for polio in 1954, the year I was born. It began to be used in 1955 around the world. The virus used at that time was an inactivated (dead) polio virus and was delivered by way of an injection. In the late 1950s, Albert Sabin introduced a "live" virus vaccine using a weakened version of the polio virus. Instead of an injection, his was given in syrup form, either with a spoon or by being dropped on a sugar cube. Immunization stations were set up across the country where people flocked with their children in hopes of protecting their children from the disease that killed or paralyzed so many children in their parents' lifetimes. I remember those sugar cubes. I don't remember there being three doses at different Sunday intervals, but that is apparently how it was given, starting in 1960. I also remember each of my parents getting a sugar cube. I was totally unaware of the actual disease or the its dangers. But I can more than imagine how glad my parents were that it had been created and how much they hoped it worked. Since my father and mother each lived 40+ more years and I am still here, and because the disease was virtually eradicated world wide, its success is evident.
11 people like this
13 responses
@marguicha (230384)
• Chile
19 Jul
I got the injection. And I became aware of the polio since I was very small because a child from my blok had had polio and used crutches.
3 people like this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
18h
@crossbones27 It was perceived as a sign of weakness. Meanwhile, we've got Greg Abbott of Texas acting like a dictator in an apparent attempt to compensate for his being wheelchair bound, showing that mindset still exists.
@marguicha (230384)
• Chile
22h
@crossbones27 I have met a few people from my generation that had polio.
1 person likes this
• Mojave, California
19 Jul
Yeah that one is crazy, it literally cripples you. Franklin D. Roosevelt was crippled and a lot of Americans never knew because how they played it off. Before or at the time television was just getting invented.
4 people like this
@AmbiePam (123093)
• United States
19 Jul
I have no recollection on how I got the polio vaccine. I only remember vaccines being administered by shots, but that doesn’t mean anything, of course.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (123093)
• United States
15h
@jerzgirl Ohhhh! That explains it. I was born in 1981.
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
Depends on how old you were in 1960. You might have been too young to remember our not born yet.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (170155)
• United States
19 Jul
I had an uncle who had polio at 18 months. The family gave up a lot to pursue therapies for him. It is suspected that my mom probably had a mild case also, because they slept in bed together. She was older than he was. We got our sugar cubes at the elementary school, like going through the lunch line. The entire family went. I do not remember three times either. By the time my kids needed immunized it was pink syrup delivered orally with a measuring syringe. I imagine it was easier to get an exact dose that way. I do remember them having three doses.
3 people like this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
I don't remember my kids having to receive it. But we stood in line out in front of the elementary school I attended in K & 6th. Loads of people were there.
@crossbones27 (53240)
• Mojave, California
19 Jul
I never had that but sounds like what we need to go back to since MAGA hates science.
3 people like this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
Which is why they removed orders for mandated vaccines for school children and military members. And now, kegsbeeath is ordering testosterone testing of males in the military so they can receive that "gender affirming care" they deny to others (testosterone shots).
@xFiacre (14989)
• Ireland
19 Jul
@jerzgirl I remember the sugar cube. In 1960 when I was 2 my parents were told I had polio. They were given no hope of me surviving very long and they took me home to just look after me and they cried and cried. 66 years later I’m still waiting for the polio to hit.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
Wow! Not everyone has a severe case. Like Covid. It's killed so many, but some just got what seemed like mild cold. Did you end up getting the vaccine or did they consider you immune after that?
@xFiacre (14989)
• Ireland
14h
@jerzgirl I got the sugar lump but there was never any signs of polio and my parents assume the doctor just got ahead of himself.
@Deepizzaguy (123396)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 Jul
The sugar cubes were used before I was born.
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
That was the fastest way to distribute them and the cheapest. Children would willingly take them so it covered everyone easily.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123396)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13h
@snowy22315 (210889)
• United States
22h
I do. My sister was a baby at that time though..they did something slightly different with her though I think,
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
18h
They probably gave her the liquid syrup since she couldn't eat the cube.
@FourWalls (87800)
• United States
9h
I don’t remember it, but I’m sure I got it. I have a smallpox scar from the vaccine on my left arm from that, too.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
6h
I have two small pox scars because they raised a second one when my parents and I moved to Venezuela in 1964. I freaked out over that, too, because of how they scratched it into my arm.
@LeaPea2417 (40165)
• Toccoa, Georgia
17h
I don't remember that.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
How old were you in 1960?
@LadyDuck (504921)
• Italy
19 Jul
I do remember very well. I was in primary school when we got the vaccine on the sugar. The first polio vaccine was an injection.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
18h
I would get hysterical over any injection. I about lost my mind when I was immunized at age 9 so I could travel to Venezuela with my parents. I look back and see myself as a nutcase my reactions were so beyond normal. Good thing the polio one was via sugar cube.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (504921)
• Italy
6h
@jerzgirl - The first polio shot was given to very young children, the one on the sugar cube came later. Salk anti polio was only tested in 1954, it became available in April 1655. I had the first one in 1951.
@DaddyEvil (175918)
• United States
19 Jul
No, I don't remember getting a polio vaccine on a sugar cube. I was born in 1963, so should be in the group that got the vaccine that way. How have you been? I haven't seen you on myLot in quite a while. I hope everything is going well for you and your family.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
You probably got yours as the syrup. Easier to give infants that than a sugar cube to choke on. We've been moving starting last November. And will be again in August now that my daughter bought a house. How about you?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (175918)
• United States
14h
@jerzgirl I'm fine, thank you. A few tumbles lately that required some stitches in the ER but, otherwise, things are going as well as an older adult can hope for.
@teamfreak16 (44490)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Jul
I don't remember. I was born in 1964 so I don't know what they were giving us. I vaguely remember sugar cubes, but don't know if that's how I was vaccinated.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
16h
You might have had the syrup since that was the easiest way to give it to infants.
1 person likes this
• Northampton, England
15h
when you have your ten year booster as an adult its the same thing
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9410)
• United States
6h
I've never had a booster. Only for tetanus.