Conclusion
The vaccine greatly reduced polio epidemics. But, this was not the vaccine's only effect. It also changed history, with the main impact it had being in medicine. Many future vaccines were based off of the killed-virus vaccine model from the polio vaccine. Also, because of polio and indirectly the polio vaccine, people who had experienced polio matured to be able to push legislation and change worldwide views of polio victims. Most importantly, survivors and their supporters pushed legislation concerning rehabilitation therapy. In addition to this, a disability rights movement took place which culminated in the American's with Disabilities Act of 1990. Finally, the vaccine saved many lives of people who have become major contributors to modern society. All of these reasons make the polio vaccine a major turning point in history.