This photograph shows a woman looking down at bottles of the polio vaccine in her hand while deep in thought. The boxes behind her specify that this was a rush shipment, indicative of how urgent is was to find a vaccine for the disease after a major outbreak a few years prior. The documentation of this moment captures the high expectations for the vaccine. However, this initial vaccine, made by Cutter Laboratories, ended up being a major medical disaster. Some of the Cutter vaccines were tainted, and instead of protecting a child against polio, it infected them. Within a short period of time, many children were either killed or paralyzed due to the disease they received from the vaccine. There were, however, many people who received it and did not contract the disease. This uncertainty caused panic. It was eventually recalled and rechecked to ensure there were no more tainted vaccines given. However, the tragedy also tainted the public’s perception of the vaccine.

The story of the Cutter vaccine is more relevant today than ever, as researchers race to create a vaccine for COVID-19. It reminds us of the dangers of rushing a scientific process as complex as the formulation of a vaccine and documents a monumental moment in medical history. The fear and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic parallels that of polio. As the world searches for a cure for the deadly coronavirus, it is vital that the risks demonstrated by the Cutter vaccine disaster be taken into account.