Submitted by Claudia Ellsworth, Rotary Club of University Place-Fircrest.
A day to celebrate the near eradication of an international disease that has affected millions. Polio, as some may remember, was called “infantile paralysis” in an earlier time. That’s because polio:
- Affects mainly children under the age of 5.
- Is highly contagious and those infected show no visible signs in the early stages.
- Polio (poliomyelitis) infects the spinal cord, causing permanent paralysis of arms, legs, or breathing muscles.
In 1985, Rotary International rose to the challenge of eradicating polio worldwide. Vaccines had been invented in the 1950’s, and in richer countries, the disease was eliminated in the 1960’s and 70’s. But large outbreaks continued around the world and in the 1980’s there were an estimated 350,000 cases worldwide, in some 125 countries. As a result of a worldwide vaccination campaign carried out mainly by volunteers, many of them from Rotary, the virus has been 99.99% eliminated. 122 countries have received support from PolioPlus grants.
Only Afghanistan and Pakistan currently have reported cases. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has just committed to continuing to vaccinate children. Rotary has invested more than US$2.2 billion in global polio eradication efforts. Rotary has also helped secure an additional $10 billion in donations for global polio eradication efforts from governments.
Thank you for reiterating the miracle of modern science. I can remember my mother’s fear that either my brother or I would get it. When the vaccine was discovered there was a collective sigh of relief across the world.
My grampa and his sister were not so lucky, they did contact polio as children as careful as the family could be, it still got them. My grampa was able to “overcome” the long term effects (as much as possible)from the disease and became an accomplished mountain climber, his sister was always “sickly” What they would of done to receive a “remedy” the story was something we always heard about and ohhhhhh how grateful they were when the vaccine was available! Now I understand why.
It was 1950 when I first had polio. My father was stationed in the panama canal zone. It wasn’t too long until I was transferred to Madigan hospital at Fort Lewis, Washington. All my muscles were at first paralyzed. I had to have surgeries to move healthy muscles moved to take the place of ones which had atrophied. My mother helped me by massaging my muscles, keeping as many healthy as she could. My left side was affected more than my right. Growing up I wore a brace on my left leg. I still had to go through PE classes the same as everyone, though I came in last in races, and never could climb up the rope.
Later in life, probably around 60, I developed Post Polio’s symptoms. sometimes people ask me how it has been. I tell them to add 20 years to your life, and that is how your body feels.
From the very beginning, God has intervened in my life to bring good out of a bad situation. For which I am very thankful. I am in my seventies an still able to get around.
Every time I read or hear about the people NOW who try to fool themselves about NOT GETTING A COVID vaccine, I am not the least bit upset if they get sick!
The people we need to keep in our prayers and support are the the people who take care of these ignorant citizens.
My God! We have a vaccine developed in RECORD time. It is saving lives!! Does anyone think how long it took to develop the polio vaccine? People lived in fear & prayed for years for a relief from polio!!
My great grandmother died in 1918 from the “Great influenza epidemic”. She would have jumped at the opportunity to get a vaccine! The minute we found out about the current vaccine for COVID, my 97yr. old mother & I didn’t hesitate to get the “Pfizer shot”!! Thank GOD for the people who spent 24/7 to develop this drug!!
WE ALL SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET VACCINATED AND NOT LIVE IN FEAR LIKE THE POLIO SURVIVORS!!!
WAKE UP PEOPLE AND GET YOUR SHOTS. Remember, everyone gets a polio vaccine with all the other shots WE all get before we go to school.