1906- . Polish-born US microbiologist whose
involvement in the anti-polio campaigns led
to the development of a new, highly
effective, live vaccine. The earlier vaccine,
developed by the physicist Jonas Salk, was
based on heat-killed viruses. Sabin was
convinced that a live form would be
longer-lasting and more effective, and he
succeeded in weakening the virus so that it
lost its virulence. The vaccine can be orally
administered.