Infectious disease expert recalls frightening epidemics of childhood diseases before he helped isolate rubella virus in 1960s

Paul Parkman, MD, right, is shown in the Paul Parkman, MD, right,
is shown in the 1960s with Harry Meyer Jr., MD, inspecting a 1960s
with Harry Meyer Jr., MD, inspecting a culture of the rubella
virus. They were part of culture of the rubella virus. They were
part of a research team whose work led to a a research team whose
work led to a successful vaccine against rubella, or successful
vaccine against rubella, or German measles. (file photo) German
measles. (file photo) When physician scientists created a vaccine
for rubella in the 1960s, people happily sought to be protected
from the disease, also known as German measles. They remembered how
rubella was responsible for miscarriages and birth defects,
explains Paul Parkman, MD, a 1957 Upstate graduate who was part of
the team that isolated the rubella virus. He went on to develop an
antibody test and a vaccine. Parkman said that "With the exception
of safe drinking water, vaccines have been one of the most
successful medical interventions of the 20th century." Regarding
recent outbreaks of measles, he notes that the vaccines are not
effective if people are not vaccinated. When physician scientists
created a vaccine for rubella in the 1960s, people happily sought
to be protected from the disease, also known as German measles.
They remembered how rubella was responsible for miscarriages and
birth defects, explains Paul Parkman, MD, a 1957 Upstate graduate
who was part of the team that isolated the rubella virus. He went
on to develop an antibody test and a vaccine. Parkman said that
"With the exception of safe drinking water, vaccines have been one
of the most successful medical interventions of the 20th century."
Regarding recent outbreaks of measles, he notes that the vaccines
are not effective if people are not vaccinated.