Story: Maurice Hilleman: Vaccine Maker
Summary: Maurice Hilleman was a scientist. He studied microbiology, single cell organisms that cause infectious diseases, like COVID. He also created vaccines to protect children. Use this story to talk about disease and ways that we protect ourselves from disease, including hand washing, wearing masks, social distancing and getting vaccinated.
Page: 1 Maurice Hilleman: Scientist
Dr. Maurice Hilleman
Maurice Hilleman was a scientist. He studied infectious diseases like COVID. He ran experiments on viruses to learn about how they worked and created vaccines to protect children from disease. Some people think he was the most important scientist in medicine in the 20th Century. His vaccines save an estimated 8 million children every year. <break time="2s"/>
Page: 2 Maurice Hilleman: Childhood
Maurice Hilleman as a child
Maurice Hilleman had a difficult childhood. Born on a farm in Montana in Nineteen Nineteen, he was the last of 9 children. His mother and sister both died in the influenza epidemic soon after he was born. He was raised by an aunt but learned to work hard on his father's farm. <break time="2s"/>
Page: 3 Maurice Hilleman: Father
Maurice Hilleman and his daughter, Jeryl Lynn
In addition to being a scientist, Maurice Hilleman was also a husband and father. Here is a picture of Hilleman and his daughter, Jeryl Lynn, around 1960.<break time="2s"/>
Page: 4 Getting the Mumps Virus
Jeryl Lynn suffered from Mumps
In 1960, Mumps was a common childhood disease. It was not often fatal but it did sometimes leave children and adults with lasting disabilities. When Jeryl Lynn developed mumps, Dr. Hilleman swabbed her cheek to collect a sample of the virus.<break time="2s"/>
Page: 4 Developing a Vaccine for Mumps
Maurice Hilleman making the Mumps vaccine
Hilleman brought the sample immediately to his lab and isolated the virus that caused Mumps. In record time he produced a vaccine from the live virus. He tested it in thousands of children to make sure that it was safe and effective at preventing the disease.<break time="2s"/>
Page: 5 Getting Vaccinated
Maurice Hilleman making the Mumps vaccine
In this picture, Jeryl Lynn is standing by while her little sister receives the vaccine so she would never be infected with Mumps.<break time="2s"/>
Page: 6 Talking About Preventing Infectious Disease
Maurice Hilleman daughters receiving the vaccine
What would you like to talk about.<break time="2s"/>