Elvis Presley’s Passionate Fight Against Polio With Joanne Wilson
Elvis Presley wasn’t just a heartthrob with a sultry voice; he was a passionate advocate for the importance of vaccinations. In 1954, the NYC Health Department reached out to the King of Rock and Roll to help promote their polio campaign, and he eagerly agreed. He even took a photo with a young polio patient, Joanne Wilson, just before appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
By 1963, there were no longer polio cases in the area, and Elvis had played a significant role. Interestingly, the young Wilson, in an interview when she was older, revealed she wasn’t an Elvis fan and only kissed him for appearances.
