How Elvis Presley Took a Bold Stance on Vaccines Nearly 70 Years Ago
- - How Elvis Presley Took a Bold Stance on Vaccines Nearly 70 Years Ago
Carly SilvaDecember 27, 2025 at 11:36 PM
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Elvis Presley is known for his undeniable influence on the music industry, but he once also had a profound effect on immunization rates for polio.
Nearly 70 years ago, the "Heartbreak Hotel" singer made the decision to get the polio vaccine backstage at CBS Studio 50, right before his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show—a historic move that would end up being a monumental moment for public health.
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Just a month after his iconic first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in September 1956, Elvis returned to the storied studio that October, where he received his polio shot backstage.
In a photo of the historic moment, Elvis can be seen with rolled-up sleeves as New York City Commissioner of Health Leona Baumgartner holds his arm and Assistant Commissioner Harold Fuerst administers the polio vaccine.
Backstage at the 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' American singer and musician Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) (center) glances out of the corner of his eye at a smiling nurse while a doctor injects him with a polio vaccine, New York, New York, October 28, 1956. CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
The photo was sent out across the nation, inspiring thousands of Americans to follow his example, despite looming fear surrounding the safety of the vaccine.
At the time of Elvis' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in October 1956, immunization levels among American teens had dropped to 0.6 percent, according to Scientific American.
But just six months after Elvis' public immunization, polio vaccine rates among American youth skyrocketed to 80 percent.
Related: Priscilla Presley Recreates Iconic Elvis Presley Photo at the Ed Sullivan Theaterin NYC
Related: Former Elvis Presley Girlfriend Linda Thompson Shares 'Sentimental' Holiday Photos of Late Icon
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
