(Letter to the Editor - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Well meaning parents question the need to vaccinate their children and even to receive Covid vaccinations. Public health experts are concerned low vaccination rates may lead to reoccurring paralytic polio, which has no cure.

Reoccurring polio is incomprehensible. I am a scientist and use scientific understanding to improve and invent new products. I hope we can all agree: vaccinations save lives. Only vaccination levels over 95% cause polio extinction.

The return of polio horrifies me. I live the paralytic effects of polio every day.

One support group member noted: “1952 was the height of the polio epidemic in the U.S. Of the nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, over 3,000 died and over 21,000 were left with mild to disabling paralysis. To many people in the 50s, there was only one thing worse than dying of paralytic poliomyelitis — one could get the disease and live.” The iron lung allows those with paralyzed diaphragms to be kept alive. — Compare with Covid in 2020. — Cute poster children showing their braces and crutches used to raise funds for the March of Dimes to finance treatment and research.

After the acute phase of polio, people recovered to some extent. One member “had a brace. Dad said I didn’t need it and threw it out. I was doing very well. Polio was gone.”

Then in 1955, the largest mass experiment in history, using American children, showed the vaccine safe and effective. Within a few years, polio was eliminated from the developed world. Globally, a five-case low in 2021 is up to 99 in 2024 because of vaccine fear and misinformation.

After 10 to 40 years with no new effects of paralytic polio, 30% to 40% begin to experience the late effects of polio (post-polio syndrome PPS) — increasing weakness, pain, fatigue and sensitivity to cold. It’s a double whammy.

A good news, bad news joke described it: “Good news — PPS is not fatal; Bad news — PPS is not fatal.” Current joke: “Doctor to patient — ‘The polio vaccine is not available. But you do have iron lung insurance.'”

When my children were small, I wondered how to answer, “Why do you walk differently using braces and crutches?” I would tell them about polio and assure them they were safe. They were vaccinated.

Don’t make me a liar! Get vaccinated against polio and other diseases.

Warren Peascoe

Vienna