Polio: The Disease that Paralyzed the World

[@Biographics]

Go to curiositystream.thld.co/biographicsjan2021 for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and non­fiction series.

[@truth5705]

I'd really like to see a Biographics video about Genrikh Yagoda or Lazar Kaganovich, Idel Jakobson or Salomon Morel or Józef Różański or Anatol Fejgin or Stefan Michnik. I wonder why you haven't, maybe you're afraid to draw attention to their ethnic backgrounds and the horrible crimes they commited. Some scholars estimate Yagoda could have killed as much as 20 million people.

[@RodolfoGaming]

What about covering Tecumseh?

[@truth5705]

@Abdul Jalloh I said: I'd really like to see a Biographics video about Genrikh Yagoda or Lazar Kaganovich, Idel Jakobson or Salomon Morel or Józef Różański or Anatol Fejgin or Stefan Michnik. I wonder why you haven't, maybe you're afraid to draw attention to their ethnic backgrounds and the horrible crimes they commited. Some scholars estimate Yagoda could have killed as much as 20 million people. He'd done videos about Himmler and Mengele why not these men, when they've killed twice as many people?

[@AliFatCat]

I already have curiosity stream

[@finneire1282]

Raid managed to get the YT and. Sorry Simon

[@DigitalLazarus]

My papa fell victim in the 50s when he was 17. Fever burned his memories and he was in an iron lung for months. Finally was able to use leg braces and crutches to walk, until he had no choice but to resort to the wheelchair. He was a giant of a man and lived to be 83. Papa considered himself lucky to live so long as the rest of his family succumbed to cancer and pre-deceased him. I miss papa.

[@forthencholordofadmirals2763]

That's both heart warming he survived and tragic he out lived his family but he never let polio keep him down

[@littletyke76]

Sorry maybe "developed" was the wrong choice of word

[@lindaarrington9397]

Awe bless you and your family. He must have been an awesome man I hate he suffered so bad. I had a friend that had polio. She was a force to recon with I know you miss him honey I miss my daddy so much..

[@hecateswolf6007]

Your father clearly was a strong, brave man. He persevered despite all odds. Respect.

[@st.gregory]

@@littletyke76 Where is “developed “mentioned?

[@TheQuickSilver101]

It's mind blowing to think that polio was once so prevalent. I feel fortunate to have been born after diseases like polio and small pox were no longer a problem in the west.

[@caitchri2426]

If we all properly took vaccines we can give the same opportunities to the next generation, so they can say the same thing ❤️

[@hunterzolomon1303]

@@caitchri2426 bruh its all a scam by the govt to control us, all you people on our flat earth believe the lies

[@Gayanega]

wait for it...🤣

[@redstateforever]

Not just those diseases. A hundred or so years ago, I would have likely died in childbirth after a perfectly normal pregnancy. An emergency c-section saved me and my son. And then I had severe preeclampsia with my second, she was born 2 and 1/2 months early, weighing only 2 lbs. Again, we would have both died without the miracle of modern medicine. She’s a very healthy teenager now, no lingering effects from her premature birth and very low birthweight. As crazy as our times may seem sometimes, I wouldn’t want to live in any other era.

[@demoniack81]

Even better: I can see the polio vaccine in my online vaccination history. Too bad my parents didn't have me get the free MMR+V vaccine. I ended up catching all of them except measles. Varicella and rosolia weren't that bad, but mumps was easily the worst experience in my life. Nearly 20 years later I still have the occasional nightmare loosely based on the hallucinations I had while delirious from it. Vaccinate your fing kids, people.

[@susantempleton5882]

When the Salk vaccine became available, my mother, a nurse, helped with vaccination at my grade school, so I spent the day in the school gym while my schoolmates were vaccinated. I can still remember the palpable relief of the parents who brought their children in. There was at least one child in each grade already crippled by polio.

[@Real_Mick3y6]

@Caroline Koch Is this a joke?

[@Real_Mick3y6]

@Caroline Koch Well, then I'm confused on what you mean by that?

[@Real_Mick3y6]

@Caroline Koch Well, thank you for informing me about this :)

[@christinebrown9443]

I remember in grade school getting the vaccine via of a sugar cube with the medicine on it.

[@anthonytroisi6682]

I am a baby boomer .After the vaccine first became available, all the children in my school were gathered in the school gymnasium to be vaccinated. I think it was in the early 1950's when I was in second and third grade. I think we got the Salk vaccine. Almost every classroom in my school district had a student with braces who had contacted the disease before the vaccine was discovered. Some of the polio survivors were entered adulthood with a limp. Before the vaccine, parents were terrified of the disease. My own parents would not let us go to public swimming pools or large public gatherings in the summer.

[@ryproar11]

My grandmother had a sister who died from polio. She showed me her scar from her vaccine but she said to me "I have this scar so you won't have to have polio. Trust me when I say a scar is nothing compared to polio. I would have a scar over that anytime." She was a nurse for 35 years and worked in nursing homes. Now she just helps out for free

[@RobertLey60]

All lies. Polio never existed

[@darius-m3p]

7/10 Almost got me ​@@RobertLey60

[@Dfoto679]

There’s another aftermath that nobody talks about and it’s called post polio syndrome and it attacks the muscles that haven’t been attacked by the original polio. My mother had polio at age 2 and at age 65 she started the symptoms post polio

[@chlorineismyperfume]

Yep, and we've had a good generation or two that didn't experience it. They will now though, long-covid is going to be a problem

[@sjduges67]

My aunt had polio in the 50s and started to develop post-polio symptoms in the late 80s. I worked in a pharmacy and one of our customers came in one day and said, "I've been diagnosed with post-polio syndrome." I called my aunt right away. I think this syndrome can present itself differently in every polio survivor.

[@amberjenkins4299]

My Grandma had contracted polio and it left one of her feet crippled. You guys are enlightening me on the after effects. In 2019, my grandma passed away at 66 years old from Lung cancer that spread to her brain. But, she had lots of other health issues before then and I wonder if she actually ever revealed to these doctors that she had once had polio and how much of her ailments may have been due to this post polio syndrome.

[@KyrieFortune]

A lot of viruses cause post-infection issues after years and years, notably shingles is the post-infection illness cause by chickenpox

[@joycemanning1254]

My cousin 82 has the syndrome

[@berryberrykixx]

My mother has a friend who had polio as a child. It hit her hard, and she had to go into one of those iron lungs. Thankfully, as she recovered, she got her ability to breathe on her own back (although, to this day, she does have emergency oxygen just in case). The lasting effects were much like FDR's; she wore braces on her legs and she used a wheelchair, but in time she taught herself to "walk" with crutches (the kind that are bent and a person leans into them, providing support from her hands up to her elbows). Her parents called her "that sick kid" and other things, told her she'd never amount to anything now, and eventually they handed their rights over to her Uncle. He was already a retiree at that point, a former Ohio State Highway Patrol officer. As she told us, once her parents had left, she looked him in the eye and said "Please help me be someone in my life". So he did. He worked with her daily to build up muscle that she could control, and worked on keeping the muscle she couldn't control from deterioration (as he supposedly told her, "You can't wear braces if you have no legs to attach them to!" Once she turned 18, he told her that although his home would always be hers if she needs it, he won't allow her to remain idle unless something drastic happens and she has no choice. She worked random jobs here and there while she applied and reapplied and reapplied to go into the Law Enforcement program at the local community college. She finally broke down and threatened a lawsuit, and she was admitted. She graduated in the top 10% of the class. Then she fought like hell to get someone to hire her but it turned out to be even more difficult. One morning, she was up at our neighborhood diner complaining to her friend from her class about her inability to convince anyone to give her a chance. He was blunt with her. He told her she already had two strikes against her; her gender, and her disability. Well, the chief of Police for a neighboring police department overheard that, got up, and told that kid to move over. He basically interviewed her right there on the spot. He told her flat out that he was not looking for new officers, but he needed a good, organized dispatcher ASAP. She took it. Years later, we were driving past her police department and a tire blew out on my mom's car. She eased it into the parking lot and told me to go inside and ask if anyone there could help out. The only two people in the building was her and the chief. Instead of asking the chief to help us, she routed incoming calls to him and she came out to help herself. The rest, you can say, is history. She just retired last year, at the age of 68, but she isn't stopping anytime soon. She still volunteers at the Children's Hospital and probably will until the day she leaves us.

[@yethir7327]

Hero :'l

[@rosshoover6986]

What a great story. Bless her heart 💞.

[@jamesbedukodjograham5508]

An amazing story for humanity.

[@saragrant9749]

What a heroic young woman!! What useless, undeserving parents- and an incredible uncle far more deserving of her presence in his life. It is still such a disgustingly commonplace occurrence that people- particularly women- with ANY disability are overlooked for certain jobs. In many cases they are far more qualified because they actually have COMMON SENSE and intuition.

[@nostalgicbliss5547]

what a woman

[@bethg.1024]

My dad had polio as a child, he just celebrated his 72 birthday. He recovered but now there are long term side effects showing up in surviving seniors. Not many people know about that. I greatly enjoy your programs, thank you.

[@pinkipromise]

what effect

[@redmaster3542]

Hope your dad will have the best life🙏 Sorry he got hit by the virus.

[@patfase]

My mum is a polio survivor too. She's the same age, wouldn't be surprised if they caught it around the same time. Ageing is hard for everyone, but for polio victims it's much worse.

[@kathleenkaiser3260]

My BIL is one of those. He can no longer walk.

[@mwilliamson8072]

I’ll second that, Beth! It’s a real inconvenience!

[@sameenrizvi9224]

I'm a Pakistani and dear God every year our health officials try harder and harder to get the vaccine to as many remote areas as possible.. But people are difficult, we need to get past their mindset before getting to their children sadly...

[@lindaarrington9397]

Oh my goodness you all have a very hard time My heart goes out to you.. I'm praying you reach all citizens there This must be stopped

[@sameenrizvi9224]

Thank you, may 2021 be the year polio is eradicated Ameen 🌸

[@monkeydank7842]

The world relies on you.

[@Adjuni]

I live in Sweden and I had one of your neighbours introduce to me a conspiracy theory told to her by a relative of hers that western dairy producers put pigs milk into cheese to keep Muslims out of Heaven. If people can believe something insane like that, then I can very well understand the skepticism of "Western Vaccines". In case you don't know why, or doesn't want to bother why the pigs milk thing is pure insanity, I have a few reasons: 1. Pigs give very little milk. 2. They are extremely difficult to milk. 3. Pigs milk last hours instead of days or months required for the production of cheese. 4. Pigs milk tastes like rancid tar.

[@pianobooks42]

I'm curious: has the western problem of anti-vaccers fueled the misinformation there? Or are the people getting this misinformation uneducated / unable to access the internet?

[@manus.4962]

I remember receiving the Sabin vaccine (oral, on a sugar cube) back in elementary school. Fever grateful to my parents for diligently vaccinating their children and fostering a love for learning and science. Oh, also, about not patenting the vaccine, Jonas Salk said "There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" Gosh

[@StephenJohnson-jb7xe]

I had a cherry flavoured syrup.

[@coryb8432]

In today's world we only follow science when it aligns with our political beliefs

[@TumblinWeeds]

By god what a lovely man

[@nielsklarenberg5871]

@@coryb8432 That goes against everything that science stands for so no, that's not even remotely true. Scientists deal with science, the public opinion rarely matters there. We don't vote on science, nor to we choose scientist by election. Your gullible populism is shining through.

[@ginariffe5525]

My first polio vaccine was in the form of a shot. It was before super sharp, small disposable needles. The needles were huge and dull and hurt like the devil. The sugar cubes were a good treat!

[@TheRumzer]

I knew FDR was going to come up, thank you for mentioning Guillain Barré syndrome. I’m a 2 time survivor of Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) and the first time I was paralyzed to the waist, the second time to the jaw. After a collective 14 months in the hospital, I was no longer paralyzed but still very weak. I’m still recovering years later.

[@MrNeboff]

I hope you're fine. Stay strong

[@sana_thinks1985]

Can GBS return ,?

[@eclipse3874]

Stay strong you got this

[@grahamt33]

Dr Salk should have been given a Nobel prize - what a great man !

[@matthewdopler8997]

I once listened to a guest speaker who was from a lab that was named after him.

[@derpinguin7003]

@@matthewdopler8997 wow. I once read a book that was written by someone who heard of him.

[@davonmulder8458]

@@derpinguin7003 wow you are a lucky pinquin

[@kwanele.gumede]

I'm sure he didn't sulk over it

[@Joshuani]

@@kwanele.gumede I hate you. But love you too.

[@sandybarnes887]

My friend Phil had polio as a kid in 60s. He had to wear heavy awkward leg braces for years. Luckily he recovered and can walk.

[@LlanHeinrich]

My dad was born around that time too, also had to wear leg braces

[@sandybarnes887]

@@LlanHeinrich I am very sorry to hear that. 😥

[@LlanHeinrich]

@@sandybarnes887 He eventually recovered too. But at least the world is lucky enough that this shouldn't be an issue anymore

[@john211murphy]

I also was a pupil in the 1960s. One of my fellow pupil sported a Leg Caliper. He was the lucky one. His other 3 siblings did not survive when his family was struck by Polio. I remember the Polio injection was very painful, but we were tough in those days.

[@ad8554]

My English teacher had it and one foot was noticeably bigger. She wore a boot and walked with a limp and cane. She was awesome. Probably one of the best teachers I had

[@dlarsh]

I remember stories from my parents and grandparents about the horrors of polio, an I can't possibly convey how grateful I am to have grown up in the post-vaccine world. The efforts of Salk and others who made this possible are truly among the greatest endeavors ever undertaken by mankind.

[@susieq3950]

I too remember my Dad speaking about the summers he spent inside the house and how fearful parents were of polio. I made sure that my children h

[@susieq3950]

Whoops, anyway,. I made certain my children were vaccinated.I shake my head. At anti-vaxxers...Too many keyboard warrior Karen's.

[@ChirpFPV]

among us

[@eeklynlad]

I had polio in 1962 at the age of four. Now at the age of 62 I still have to wear a leg brace on my left leg. I had the vaccine, but I was one of the few that still contracted the disease. I went to public schools and grew up with the "normal" kids. What doesn't kill you makes you strong. I still work and am a branch manager of a company. God only knows how far I might have made it if I hadn't had polio. I never let it hold me back, but I know I have limitations. I recently lost my wife, but I know I'll see her again soon. The only woman that ever understood me. Peace

[@ShiftDrift-kh6wb]

This is heartbreaking. Hope you're doing ok

[@daniellegavin9587]

So the vaccine didn't work.. I doubt you were one of few who still contracted polio.. Much like the covid vaccine

[@judybaird7842]

My chemistry teacher had polio when he was younger and was disabled because of it. He told us what it was like growing up with it and why vaccines were important. He is the reason I will never be an against vaccines. Also my nursing school classes has helped me to see the importance of vaccines.

[@Luubelaar]

My mother worked with a lovely man who used leg braces and canes to walk. When I found out that this was the result of polio, I never whined about getting a vaccination.

[@jenniferlawrence8533]

I remember reading the head line in the newspaper That said they had a vaccine for polio. I cried with relief. We had to stay home and have no contact with others in the summer if polio was in our city. For a child it was terrifying. Because we knew children were the ones to get it. I wonder if the people against vaccines really think what it means to live with that threat?

[@FatBlackPussycat]

Your comment made me wonder how the Covid pandemic will affect today's children.

[@gloriamontgomery6900]

I remember my mother telling me that public swimming pools had to be closed whenever there was a polio outbreak.

[@lovelyangelicslime1594]

Im not against vaccines at all but corona and polio aint the same. Corona vaccine is useless

[@lesliecurran1704]

I know people who refuse to vaccinate their children for anything including polio. I read a book about someone who had polio and how awful it was. How painful. Honestly, I don't think these people have any concept of what would be like to have polio.

[@sigsin1]

What gets me is that, because of parents not getting their kids vaccinated, polio is making a comeback. And everyone who has never had a booster (after age 18), which is most of us, are susceptible. The only people allowed to get boosters are those who work in healthcare settings.

[@TheGelasiaBlythe]

The March of Dimes was actually named by Eddie Cantor. Everyday people had been asked to send whatever tiny amounts of money they could - even just a dime. Eddie Cantor said that it was a wonderful thing, this "March of Dimes," making a play on words of a popular news show played at movie theaters before the main film called The March of Time. The March of Dimes stuck, and did good work.

[@craigmurphy1204]

He coined it, so to speak.

[@nicolekiel1838]

My Grandpa’s brother died from Polio as a child a few months before the vaccine came out. To this day it’s still hard for my grandpa to talk about it.

[@seaturtlepoppy7679]

I can’t imagine being so close and losing someone …

[@rayraudebaugh5395]

I had an aunt that died from it and a cousin who managed to survive and almost, but not quite completely recover. Thank you Jonas Salk. You saved millions of lives and countless people from suffering its crippling effects.

[@RBEO22]

"What did people do BEFORE vaccines?!" "They died, Karen. People died."

[@Luubelaar]

Yep. People died. Sometimes in huge numbers. And yet here we are with people whining about getting a vaccine for a disease that has killed over 3.5 million people in a bit over a year.

[@Prox_C]

@@max0390rip ..... so snarky.

[@Luubelaar]

My husband works in bioscience. I'll take his nearly 30 years of experience over "research" done on Facebook and conspiracy theory sites. YOUR ignorance is showing, not mine.

[@max0390rip]

@@Prox_C tired of ignorance in society. Where are the Americans who love liberty, dont see any

[@max0390rip]

@@Luubelaar you mean the establishment funded education he gained? Yeah no biased learning there. Much like the established fda approved food pyramid that suggests eating a high carbohydrate diet is healthy hahaha. Ignorance is you ignoring all the information, only accepting a small fraction of evidence, which is biased. Makes sense. Ignore all the medical professionals who were silenced. Ignore that dr. Fauci back in the 80s promoted a highly deadly drug for hiv patients. Ignore the fact the RNA vaccine is the first of its kind with no long term studies done. Ignore the double talk about masks . Just ignore everything because ignorance is bliss. Ignore the facts that show covid is less deadly than the normal flu. Lol

[@lunartears6761]

My grandfather had polio when he was a teenager. This was a few years before the vaccine was invented and available to the public (somewhere in the 1950’s). Sadly, he is no longer with us, he passed away around 2007 from Leukemia. According to my grandmother, he had the worst strain at the time, and was on one of the first iron-lung machines. She said that he started to suffer from it after he swam in a nearby lake in Arkansas, where he grew up. She also mentioned that other people got sick with it to around the same time after swimming in the lake. He survived it without the need to live off a machine for the remainder of his life, and appeared to have made a full recovery. He was very active in his job, as he was a fireman. However, I’m almost certain that he had something called Post-Polio Syndrome. He had increased difficulty with walking and simple movements in the last 20 years of his life.

[@rachelstratman1405]

My mom wouldn't let us swim in fresh water, and we were taught not to get our faces wet, or eat while swimming, for fear of polio....once vaccinated, we were still were not allowed to go swimming in fresh water! I remember taking the vaccine in school, EVERYONE took it, unless they had a doctor's note saying they already had it. The idea that anyone would opt-out of the vaccine never occurred to us.

[@allangibson8494]

Polio is spread by sewage contamination in water - and also why hand washing after using the toilet was pushed.

[@Terry-op5zb]

Wow, I never knew that he was placed on the dime in honor of his work fighting Polio and with the March of Dimes. That is seriously respectable....

[@patpierce4854]

That surprised me as well. I’ll never look at my pocket change without thinking of this...

[@danielleburke87]

​@@patpierce4854I thought the same thing

[@kittypop5424]

My pop had polio as a kid, he went on to become a nurse in the early 50’s and advocated strongly for vaccines

[@GabrielWarlock]

Props to your old man! Shame he didn't get his polio vaccine in time

[@patrickgrounds2157]

My dad had polio. As a child he spent months in an isolation hospital. He is now 81, frail but still living independently with my mum. Love you dad xxx

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

"The safety of the product was never questioned again." Tell that to Karen

[@marialiyubman]

It’s so convenient that right after this virus appeared out of thin air, they suddenly had a vaccine... such dumb luck..

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

@@marialiyubman I know it's like science caught up lol

[@willy66661able]

yeah should have questioned it more it caused cancer and took millions of life before they finay figured it out !!!

[@thecancelling2870]

@@marialiyubman I'm not inclined to get an mRNA vaccine yet, but the mRNA idea is not new and in response to MERS it looks like a lot of the research was on hold. It's not that new from what I understand

[@riswanda2620]

@@marialiyubman i mean,covid is not an entirelly new virus Its related to some virus we have encounter so its easier to make vaccine for them(sars) Also not to mention some of the vaccine are rushed which is why some have side effect

[@laura1443]

My uncle had polio when he was young; this would have been durning the late 1940's. He was put in a hospital polio ward with (I think) 12 other boys. My uncle was the only one not in an iron lung, and the only one who survived.

[@helenafarkas4534]

Simon can you do a video on Rosemary Kennedy? born with developmental disabilities due to a forcibly delayed birth, she was lobotomized into being completely disabled and was then hidden away by her father. once her siblings found her again, they all began to campaign and advocate for the disabled in her name.

[@CitrusyGuy]

It’s likely that the disabilities were falsified as rosemary was actually surprisingly intelligent

[@fynnla.e]

@@CitrusyGuyBeing disabled doesn’t automatically mean you’re stupid. I myself have multiple learning disabilities including ADHD and ASD yet I refuse to let it stop or hinder me from learning. I’m not a super genius by any means but I’m intelligent enough; and some of the smartest people I know have the same conditions as me.

[@CitrusyGuy]

@@fynnla.e this comment was like a year old :sob:

[@cliveedwards2958]

My cousin died from this terrible disease. She had all her limbs amputated by the time she was 20, yet she used to great me with joy and not a shred of self pity. I was eight years old and didnt realise the nightmare she was in simply because she fronted up and never, but never complained or blamed. It really hit me several years after her passing, when I was in my late teens just what she was going through and has shaped the whole way I deal with problems..I never complain. Lynda showed me how and I have never forgot my lovely brave cousin.

[@dewaynemaddox1296]

Simon thank you for this video, my mother was born in Kentucky in 1952, and got polio shortly after, while rendered unable to walk for her entire life she had two children lead fairly normal life and was part of groups and on a board that help pass the ADA laws in the 90's. While growing up around this all this video shed light on many things I had no idea about.

[@sbennett2435]

It is amazing what we can do when we join together. I wish we could do it more often and weren't so selfish. Salk and Sabin were so giving that they refused to make money off of their hard work. I can't imagine modern companies doing that today.

[@winston6175]

Anyone else get a little misty eye'd because of how inspirational this story is or is it just me?

[@WillPhil290]

Nope, nope... I'm right there with ya...

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

Nope, I'm teary as a mf right now. It's a beautiful story.

[@ewoodley82]

My grandma was a victim of the 1952 outbreak, she was extremely lucky in that it only affected one leg permanently.

[@alevien9099]

Imagine living 110-100 years ago: every winter a flu kills of thousands (and a spanish one millions) and then during summer Polio hits... in what a luxurious, comfortable time we live compared to that

[@antigonepc]

The winter flu does kill thousands. Every year in the USA about 50-100 thousand people die from it. Between 2017-2018 61,000 people died of influenza. And up to 650 thousand deaths worldwide. The flu still kills ALOT of people.

[@allangibson2408]

@@antigonepc The 2017 Flu was the worst in fifty years because the vaccines didn’t cover the variant strain.

[@LeolaGlamour]

Wasn't from Spain dip ish.

[@aurabindaghosh4559]

Less wars today

[@Packless1]

@@LeolaGlamour ...in hindsight it would be called 'Kansas-Flu'...!

[@icu_corey_rn_903]

Remember when widespread disease and people dying wasn’t a political tool and people actually cared to help?😂

[@ChildOfTheFlower]

When I was in my senior year of high school, I met a girl at the college I was going to fir night classes who had Polio. She was from Vietnam explaining she came from a small village when she saw my confusion as soon as she said she had polio. She was a sweet girl and always made it possible to remind everyone she was just as normal as the rest of us.

[@packnetadaija]

I'm just imagining how in like 40-50 years there will be a video like this talking about COVID, its really interesting to think about

[@coryb8432]

As an adult if you contract with polio prior to the vaccine it had a 15 to 30% mortality rate covids mortality rate for unvaccinated is about .6% not sure they're comparable but maybe I haven't been watching enough CNN lately

[@ginariffe5525]

@@coryb8432 the mortality rate is 5.7% according to Johns Hopkins not CNN. The fake news bs is going to keep this virus circulating in the population for many years.

[@Schnitzel_23]

​@@coryb8432these are actual people you're talking about mon Ami, not just blind statistics Our duty as medical professionals is not to play around with numbers but eradicate the nuisance altogether

[@farticlesofconflatulation]

When parents clamored for a vaccine.

[@IyonnaFloyd]

When people trusted the government and scientists.

[@Satsujiin]

@@IyonnaFloyd such fax

[@lunartears6761]

It was during an age where it was still heard of for children to die painfully from illness. And when a small cut that we would shrug off today, could have been more lethal.

[@christineparis5607]

They should today too. When your kid gets lockjaw from a splinter, you'll wish you'd risked the one in a million side effects of vaccines...

[@lunartears6761]

@@christineparis5607 Not gonna lie, it scared the sh*t out of me when I learned in middle school health class that a damn splinter or puncture wound could lead to your jaws literally locking.

[@cassandraralph5906]

I remember being vaccinated against polio in the mid 1960's, and I knew two, possibly three people who had had polio, and suffered the effects. As a person with a disability, I have seen much improvement in the way disabled, and elderly people are treated, but however there is still much more room for improvement, especially in the attitudes of abled bodied people, and medical professionals.

[@norecipenecessary6864]

My mother in law was part of the last outbreaks, and fortunately had a mild case affecting vocal chords. Now in her 80s, she does well.

[@annalieseminette9042]

Well done. My grandfather was diagnosed with polio around 1920. Ended up having experimental surgery to save his life. Walked with one slightly shorter leg for the rest of his life. Went on to be a Hawaii State Department of Health Microbiologist. He and my grandmother had a house in Manoa with a specially built elevator to assist him. We lost him to post-polio syndrome when I was 9. Thank you for sharing a well researched documentary on this topic.

[@worstwaystodie5763]

Sadly this disease is still endemic in parts of Asia despite the availability of a vaccine 😔

[@roseedge5626]

yes, because people don't get them. If everyone got the vaccine, it would be eradicated completely.

[@lhzook]

Both my aunt & high school boyfriend had polio as small children. My aunt was the first poster child for Chicago. My family got absolutely no help from them! Surgery was done on her good leg, to stunt the growth, enabling her to walk. They operated on the wrong leg! The only organization to help was the Shriners! God bless them. We stood in line for our sugar cube vaccination.

[@jillb3072]

Do epilepsy next, such a misunderstood neurological syndrome, which I have experienced stigmatization about for the last 20 years (I was diagnosed at 16, but fought my butt off to obtain my degrees including my MD

[@NotProFishing]

My brother has been crippled from uncontrollable epilepsy, the stigma he carries is a cross no one should bare. Some of my family still thinks you can 'catch' it. You persevered and overcame. I'll never know or meet you but you are an idol to a young 6yr old.

[@jillb3072]

@@NotProFishing that means so much to me to hear. I’ve worked here in Canada to help the young and parents of them to understand their disorder for Epilepsy foundations on top of my career as an anesthesiologist. I do it because being finally diagnosed at 16 I faced a lot of stigma and I want it removed. I want the best that science can give into this neurological syndrome/disorder and to make all of us aware, compassionate, empathetic and MOSTLY educated about it!

[@zeusathena26]

Congrats. My husband has seizures due to a brain tumor, not epilepsy. I studied it a lot though because of the confusion many have. Many assume it's epilepsy. Even doctors have swapped it. I think a video would be great.

[@jeremystewert4303]

I’m Epileptic with uncontrollable seizures. I had brain surgery last April, 11th. A 2/3 Corpus Calosotomy where they made an incision 2/3 of the way down my brain, front to back. It took me 6 years to get my Bachelors in Ag Science but I finally had to give up work and file for disability. People treat you totally different, like your contagious. Grand mals are the only type of seizures I don’t have but people don’t want to listen until they see someone have a seizure. I do work but only part time and no one believed me until I had my first seizure at work. I’ve been arrested for drunk in public several times but arguing with the police is pointless, they never believe me. It’s kind of ironic but my epileptologist give me the exact same sobriety test the police do every time I see him, to test my reflexes, eyes, sense of touch, etc. When I have a seizure I’m basically acting like a intoxicated person and theirs nothing I can do about it. I guess that’s a crime or atleast I’m treated like a criminal?

[@jillb3072]

@@zeusathena26 as of now, im no longer practicing, but teaching/mentoring on a per diem basis, and am collecting disability. Im in Canada and am not paid much in this situation. I developed another rare neurological condition called intracranial hypertension (my brain does not absorb spinal fluid and therefore mimics symptoms of a tumor, i have undergone various -35- neurosurgeries.) In between doctor and patient i have encountered many brain tumor patients and as effect of a tumor can cause siezures, as well as from trauma from tumor removal. Siezures themselves are such a broad spectrum. I suffer from three different types that are all generalized and there is a plethra of a spectrum

[@catherinespencer-mills1928]

I was born in 1950. What I remember: I believe my siblings and I were vaccinated around 1956. We went to the National Guard Armory in town and were given sugar cubes to eat. My dad made us open our mouths to be sure we swallowed. It was sugar, of course we swallowed! One of my dad's cousins had had polio and he was not going to let one of his kids contract the disease if he could help it. I also remember March of Dimes campaigns and contributing to them. So glad those days are gone. And any parent who believes it is no big deal ... well.

[@booknerd3172]

The vaccines worked so well people forgot why we needed them... So frustrating!

[@johnharrop5530]

I'm an incomplete paraplegic from a car accident it's been a hard road learning how to walk again also a very interesting journey, I woke up not being able to move my legs at all only able to move my toes on my right foot, I stared at my left toes and after 2 weeks they started moving 7 months later I was walking, well wobbling more to the point ,my cousin had polio he lost a few muscles but he has never given up

[@Ando2k10]

My dad had polio, as a teen, and had to wear leg braces his whole life. I still remember helping him to take off the braces when he came home from work. He'd used his time in the hospital, to learn cartography.

[@cordasolis]

I’m very sorry that he had to deal with the disease, but the fact that he learned cartography is very interesting! Do you still have the maps he made? What kind of maps did he make?

[@Ando2k10]

@@cordasolis Unfortunately, I have none of it. He worked for an engineering firm doing topographical maps and such for new building projects.

[@sweetchildofnine6677]

I live in Pittsburgh, and went to a branch campus of University of Pittsburgh. We do love Salk

[@LinkiePup]

I hate that I live in a modern world where people now condemn these vaccines that once saved thousands of lives.

[@Sketchyderlahh]

We just live in world where the truth finally gets out! I’m glad I never got the COVID vaccine and I’m glad cause they have admitted it’s dangerous

[@RobertLey60]

because the virus was created and given out by the vaccine

[@karennorris7880]

My Uncle David had polio as a child and ended up with one leg about two inches shorter than the other, but although he walked with a limp for the rest of his life, and couldn't play sports, at least he could walk. My Grandmother had Diptheria and lost her hearing when she was 14. We are so blessed to have vaccine's for these diseases today.

[@BuffPsyduck]

I’m eating string cheese and watching a video on polio... not how I thought my morning would start.

[@TheMilkyBarKid3]

Winning at life my friend

[@ritchardthomas10]

Me too except the string cheese is queso dip for potato chips

[@Nathan-ng1jt]

As George Best once said, "..where did it all go so right".

[@caitchri2426]

Thug life indeed

[@MrJruta]

Lol you need to wash it down with an ice cold corona

[@Styxswimmer]

"None of them tried to patent the vaccine which would have been worth billions". I am a fervent capitalist but there are some instances where profit is obscene. Truly amazing men. Respect

[@Captain_Fantasy]

Unlike today where CDC employees hold patents for hundreds of pending vaccines. They just need to figure out how to make us scared of trivial infections but they're obviously doing a very good job of that.

[@heatherbailie129]

Sir Frederick Banting & James Best did the same thing with insulin, but there are still people in the US who can't afford it.

[@Styxswimmer]

@@heatherbailie129 the cause of that is frequently the regulation put on those companies. I have a friend who used to work for a chemical company and the amount of regulation he had to comply with was absolutely insane. During production hours he could barely take 10 steps on the floor without having to fill out paperwork. Then you got storage and transpo costs plus employee pay and benefits.

[@uzaiyaro]

Just out of sheer curiosity; where do you stand on universal/social healthcare? Personally, I think its a net benefit, and things like this are why. The covid vaccine will be another case study in this. Neglected tropical diseases, too.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

Yep, there's people with hearts, then there's those for the money. Which I guess it's what kind of people ones familiar with. As there's people worth dying for, then there's others, might as well make money off then as they'd do the same to you.

[@hollienolan1000]

My great uncle has Polio in the early 50’s, lived until 2015 but always had problems with his breathing from it.

[@glendadorie7664]

I'm 76 years old and a polio survivor. I contracted the disease in 1948 when I was two years old. At the onset of polio, I was paralyzed from the neck down and was placed in an iron lung to assist my breathing. After 24 hours, I was able to be taken out. I was breathing on my own and the disease had settled on my right side. There's so much more to my story but I want people to remember all the behind the scenes heroes who cared for us survivor. Without them taking care of those who caught polio, many would not have lived. God bless all of them.

[@Stickmanght]

This video is close to my heart. My dad had Polio. His younger brothers had severe cases requiring being in iron lungs for many months. In all told they had 7 cases of Polio in their house at the same time, including two cousins. They were in national papers for it. Their youngest siblings, not yet born at that time, were among the first to receive the Salk vaccine, being in Detroit. My uncles received the first reconstructive surgeries, completely experimental at the time. They both needed surgeries to walk again, with the aid of crutches and eventually just a cane or walking stick. Although as they got older they needed a wheelchair more and more. One of my uncles liked to tell the story of how he had surgery to move one of the tendons in his pinky finger to his thumb. Thus allowing him to have opposable thumbs again. Both my uncles are in medical history books as the first human cases of these surgeries to help reconstruct the ravages of Polio. Both uncles eventually died after many years of post Polio syndrome and the complications it caused to their long term health. These family stories have driven home just how important vaccines have been, and are, to our collective good health, free of the worst diseases that have ravaged humankind through our history.

[@angiep2229]

I wasn't sure I was in a mood to learn about Polio after such a harrowing day yesterday, but this was very interesting. I had not known the history of the March of Dimes, which is really cool.

[@forthencholordofadmirals2763]

Me neither I found that particularly heart warming

[@mammuchan8923]

I agree wasn’t sure I was in the mood, but glad I watched, what a boost for the soul to hear about this tragic disease that was overcome. Leaves me feeling hopeful about COVID

[@TheHorseOutside]

Always count on Simon to make puns about the darkest material possible

[@thespethalone1950]

Then you'll love Business Blaze

[@TheDroneZoneIRL]

Wouldn't be here otherwise. This guys great.

[@redmaster3542]

I love this guy too. Dark puns are my thing

[@notme7728]

15:11 Here is a list of humble men, men that didn't want money or fame or power, just to help humanity.

[@michellegriffiths8955]

Check out garreth williams the good the bad the ugly on polio its on u tube no frills very interesting some well i would say evil things they did to children

[@loganchavez6996]

My grandpa just recently passed away and he got Polio when he was really little and had it for a while then he got his vaccine for it then he had to go into a rehabilitation center to learn how to walk and when he turned 16 he went into the military and went into Vietnam, he handled explosives to blow up bridges, tanks, etc. His stories about him having Polio were terrible, he lived to be 76 and the best grandfather I could've ever asked for, R.I.P. Gramps.

[@RobinMs1984]

I had GBS 6 years ago. After 6 months, recovery started and after 12 it stopped. I can walk, run, practice yoga, Lift weights.... anything dealing with balance and grip (like rock climbing) or the cold (ice skating) are nearly impossible. I still have nerve damage to my feet, but it’s manageable by pain killers. I was so sick I lost 40 pounds (starting from a healthy weight). I had a seizure, contracted mursa from an IV in hospital as well as a staph infection from a different iv. My body was just falling apart. I had no idea FDR is thought to have possibly had GBS instead of polio. Thank you for this one ❤️ Today I’m happy, healthy, and a new mom ❤️

[@TysonPower]

These biographics on viruses are always dope.

[@411E109]

Huh?

[@BeeMcDee]

This episode made me cry - mostly with pride. Human ingenuity astounds me, and really, it’s an incredible thing to think that we’ve eradicated something that was once so pervasive. As a disabled woman, I also want to shout out to the people who paved the way for the rights we have today. Without those people, I don’t even know if I’d be alive right now. Funnily enough, the strongest advocate I knew as a child was a woman who had polio. She taught me that I had as much right to space in this world as anyone else did. Thank you for this episode. ❤️

[@em1osmurf]

i remember: the helpless, suffocating fear and horror that swept my school when a child fell ill to polio infection. and the little cards with the slot you could fit a dime into. covid can't hold a candle to it--at least now we have a possible cure for covid. back then it was just outright hopeless suffering.

[@Chris-hx3om]

It's not a cure (for Covid), it's a vaccine. And there are still a ton of morons who think it'll be 'mind controlling'...

[@gray9606]

@@Chris-hx3om Well, they said “possible”, and long term, if people actually get the vaccine, it could be

[@Chris-hx3om]

@@gray9606 I hope you've had the vaccine, because if you haven't, you are part of the problem, not the solution.

[@Arktober-Ghost]

ngl the bit about the march of dimes made me tear up. the idea of all those schoolchildren sending money to help other people their age just really got to me

[@oppaloopa3698]

The reason I’m able to do things as simple as go down a sidewalk, up a ramp, and get groceries is because of these people. I probably wouldn’t even be alive without those activists.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:30 - Chapter 1 - The virus 2:35 - Chapter 2 - Origins of the disease 4:30 - Chapter 3 - The polio pandemic 6:10 - Chapter 4 - Battling polio 8:30 - Mid roll ads 9:30 - Chapter 5 - A race for the vaccine 12:00 - Chapter 6 - The salks trials 13:30 - Chapter 7 - Vaccinating the world 15:35 - Chapter 8 - Dealing with the aftermath 17:00 - Chapter 9 - Ridding the world of polio

[@doomi4055]

Thx For Timestamp Dude

[@hgfkowgxnfkpeosuvjgosa4431]

Thx For Midroll Ads Dude

[@stevedietrich8936]

I remember getting what I believe was the polio vaccine, administered by giving you a sugar cube that had a drop (or drops) of the vaccine in it. I imagine that this would have been in about 1957 when I would have been in 2nd grade. I had an aunt who contracted polio as an adult in the late '40's. She was wheelchair bound for the rest of her life before passing away in about 1970. Such a debilitating disease.

[@imouse3246]

When you say "this year", speaking to polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan, we assume you mean 2020.

[@stevanstamenic7320]

Yes, probably recorded in 2020 since he and his team most likely took a few days off for the New Year, it takes a while to edit it and upload it

[@chitlitlah]

It's kind of odd either way. He said, "So far this year," but it was most likely either made days from the end of last year or days into this year. It's either >95% of last year or

[@geekbeer5846]

I just don't like when forms of media other than like a newspaper use "This year". Isn't the point of your content to be watched through the years? And be factually correct throughout? Just say what year you're referring to, 'this year' is just so. Ugh. Idk I'm just nit picky and it's a pet peeve😩

[@stevanstamenic7320]

@Mr MemeBucket Poor man, must´ve been suffering so much

[@stevanstamenic7320]

@Mr MemeBucket Let´s just hope he is now enjoying in Heaven. Making up for all the things he missed out on

[@jezman8652]

Here in Tasmania Australia, a well known disability support agency I’ve had various dealings with in my life due to my challenges, was originally founded in 1937 to help Polio survivors with the many supports needed, my mum got her first job in the disability support industry with them in the late 70’s, these days they provide many disability services but as I said their origins were helping mainly kids left disabled from Polio in the late 30’s and they just evolved from there. St Giles they’re called.

[@oliverbooker9528]

I grew up in Warm Springs on the Foundation grounds in the 60’s. Dad was the comptroller of the Foundation which owned and operated the hospital and treatment facilities. I went to the movies and to church with the polio patients. What wonderful memories came back through your video. Thank you very much!

[@NotProFishing]

Brings tears to my eyes knowing when the children are threatened, humans come together to defeat an ancient evil wether it is polio or smallpox.

[@swymaj02]

Now we try to bring kids back to school, only to lock them down the next day for a month.

[@bendover7841]

@@swymaj02 to save their lives you clown

[@iamacatperson7226]

@@swymaj02 to be fair, COVID, in most of the cases, far, far more mild than Smallpox or Polio. You do still have a point tho

[@jacobhuff3748]

Like the video, the only problem that I have is that Simon only gets how the polio became epidemic partially right. While the greater population density of urban areas was a factor another was the improvement in sanitation and sewage treatment created a scenario where infants(at a time when the mother's antibodies would have provided protection) weren't exposed early so when later exposed the virus took a worse toll.

[@whytho1534]

Karen: _has a child_ Child: _doesn't get vaccinated_ Child: _Is diagnosed with polio_ Karen: *this is beyond s̶c̶i̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ Facebook*

[@RJM1011]

Same with the Corona AIDS crap from China ! :(

[@wombatdk]

That's called "natural cure". Working as intended, according to Karen. We need more Karens.

[@truth5705]

Average Woman: Is this Thalidomide drug safe? Doctor: Yes it's tested scientifically? Average Woman: Ok, I'll take it for morning sickness. Doctor: Great. 9 month later... Average Woman: Why are my babies deformed?!? Doctor: We're not right all the time.

[@wombatdk]

@@truth5705 That's why you dont take opioids, pain meds, cancer treatments or ANY other meds. Only naturally occurring medications like arsenic or various plants please.

[@dohboi75]

Opioids are natural. Developed from the poppy.

[@mariaminghi4297]

My grandma has alzheimer’s and constantly repeats that polio was the first pandemic she had to face (as covid is a thing right now)

[@Resonance1919]

My grandmother is a polio survivor. One of her legs was affected and became extremely weak. She has had many surgeries but still walks to this day, in her 80s now. She's awesome

[@skyden24195]

Another informative and well delivered episode.

[@darkgodgiller7342]

Likely to not be forgotten. I think most folks under 50 have forgotten how bad things can be without vaccines.

[@brytnihammerify]

I dont know if its that or if its more that some people just don't care

[@chezshirecat1872]

I had chicken pox, was out of school at month and thankful my son never had to go through it

[@michellerains2732]

Most folks under 50 have never known what life is like without vaccines especially here in the U.S.

[@AntelJM]

I’m 52 and though there have been some changes (things like boys getting the rubella jab and the development of the hpv vaccine) I had many vaccines as a child in the very early 1970’s, including measles, polio and TB so I’d say its only the elderly that can remember life without vaccines, not the barely over fifties.

[@jillymo527]

My mom had polio when she was 5 in 1949. She was paralyzed for about 18 months and spent 10 months in an iron lung. She had problems during adulthood, like chronic asthma and leg weakness. As she grew older, she developed more serious problems associated with Post-polio Syndrome. All this while she worked as a pediatric ICU RN. She had pneumonia in March 2020 and entered a nursing home for physical rehab. She caught COVID at the home in April. This week, my mom was placed in hospice care. The doctors believe her Post-polio Syndrome made her more susceptible to serious COVID and post-COVID issues. Please wear a mask everyone, and please keep my mom Judy in your thoughts. She doesn't have much time left. These viruses are serious business.

[@johnaustin704]

As fellow polio survivor, all my best wishes to you and your mom!

[@Saitaina]

I remember interviews with the older ones over this, the ”summer flu”...mudt have been a horrid time to be a parent, terrified your child would get it and if they did, how badly. Hearing these stories, I can not imagine having children and NOT doing everything possible to protect them from diseases like this.

[@lilrhia]

"The effect [polio] had on our world is likely to never be forgotten." Antivaxxers: bet

[@marialiyubman]

WTF is an antivaxxer? If you don’t take antibiotics every cold season are you anti-meds? Ignorant people repeating pharma hate, as always.

[@erickeller162]

@@marialiyubman antivaxxer is a term applied to a person that vehemently opposes vaccination based on the studies of Facebook moms and Gwynneth Paltrow.

[@nor4eto999]

@@marialiyubman okay, let's call them with something else - pro-diseasers

[@Alexwhywest]

@@marialiyubman ❄️

[@sarahh3061]

Antibiotics are not indicated in colds as colds are viruses🙃

[@Maderyne]

I remember as a child being vaccinated for polio when I was 6 yrs old. Such a long time ago now, but then it was a very big deal.

[@bateman2112]

When I was nine I was reading an FDR biography for school and the book had a misprint. It said he was infected with polo. I was so confused.

[@urasay2]

That's the British royal family

[@411E109]

Jeremy - Roosevelt DID have polio. This video had a very brief statement that indicated some "scientists" believe he had Guillain-Barre disease. These "scientist" wrote a book that claimed this. BUT no medical authority agrees with this.

[@bateman2112]

@@411E109 polo, not polio. As in the game not the disease.

[@Ronirvan]

And today we see corporations lobbing for their own cv19 vaccines, turning a human tragedy in hard cold money.

[@jwenting]

and public health officials having major financial stakes in those same companies, using their power to prevent cures from being used that aren't manufactured by those companies in order to enrich themselves...

[@nathanhiggins1438]

The quickest vaccine ever gotten to and we're upset because someone invested in it and wants to make money? Just because something is tied to a cartoonish version of an evil corporation doesn't make it bad

[@TwentyNinerR]

This pisses me off big time, as recently the chairman of Indonesia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans what's called "Mutual Cooperation Vaccination", basically a heavily euphemised lobbing of the nation's pre-existing CV19 vaccines. Side note: sometimes I dislike my native Indonesian language because someone somewhere can make a despicable act seem acceptable through hopeless use of euphemisms and rhetorics.

[@pixelapocrypha]

@@nathanhiggins1438 Here's the thing, the polio vaccine was so widespread and successful because it wasn't patented and was given out practically like candy. By putting a price tag on the covid19 vaccine, it will lengthen the pandemic artificially when we could eliminate it outright when people can't afford to buy it. Idk where you live but here in the states healthcare is incredibly expensive, even if you have insurance.

[@JeffreyDavisChristianAuthor]

I'll be glad when the FDA approves the COVID19 vaccine.

[@benmcreynolds8581]

My GrandAunt and one of my dad's sister had polio. My GrandAunt lived to be into her late life but she was in a wheelchair from it. It effected her a lot physically but she was so strong and stayed chipper and positive, she made such a beautiful impact on my life. It's still crazy to think about that I was born in 1989 and got to experience seeing a disease that is very much controlled nowadays. Its crazy people were having to be in the iron lung machines and so many other things, I'm just so glad science has been improving to positively impact this issue that effected so many people.

[@igorz3551]

I like how he goes off topic and i learn something totally new

[@Tinkering4Time]

This legacy of scientific research, civil rights activism, and social welfare gives me hope in these dark times.

[@ComXDude]

Unfortunately, the worst of humanity seem to have crawled out of the woodworks over the last year with the intention of undoing this legacy. Here's hoping that we can put these worms back in their can before it gets out of hand.

[@adamiyaman9360]

Salk's son is my dogs vet. And his other son is an amazing potter.

[@lindaarrington9397]

Wow I'm in awe Such an honor

[@WillPhil290]

Trippy... Lol

[@Woodsmoke22]

Run, Forrest! You knew this was coming.

[@aubryilkanic2055]

I am so thankful for the polio survivors for their work for disability access. I have more recently gotten diagnosed with Berlotties syndrome which means I have a hard time walking a long periods as well as having EDS.

[@deniseroe5891]

Just saw a documentary the other day. There is a man in Dallas who still has to use the iron lung. He is the last known person still having to live in one of those. I remember getting the oral vaccine on a sugar cube in the 60’s

[@mistyhaney5565]

Very interesting and timely video. As a citizen of the United States, I feel your statement that the effects of polio won't be forgotten may be a bit of wishful thinking on the part of your writers. Compare the eagerness of parents to protect their children as soon as possible then to the inexplicable refusal of parents to protect their children at all today.

[@Mulambdaline1]

Such an inspiring video! The things we can do when we work together!

[@detoxertx]

Hey Simon, I am always very pleased with your videos and the research that goes into them. Your team and yourself have given me hours of entertainment and so much knowledge. Thank you for everything you do. I know this will be buried but just wanted to comment on at least one video of yours. Cheers.

[@wrmlm37]

You and your teams always put the work in and I thank you. No matter what channel, it will be interesting.

[@deborahbones8871]

My aunt contracted it as a child pre vaccine. She was lucky enough to survive after being put into an iron lung, but was physically handicapped for life. Great piece, thanks Simon.

[@glennrugar9248]

I keep thinking I had watched the best episode of biographics. Then this comes out. Bravo

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

My father caught polio when he was eleven. He walked with the aid of a steel caliper on his leg. He still built hi own home though.

[@pogosmama1]

My mother’s generation (not that long ago), i.e. my grandparents (and no, I’m barely middle-aged lived in absolute terror that my mother might get polio, and my mother had mumps and measles, and she was desperately ill when she had each of those. Her mother, my grandmother was a registered nurse but felt helpless in the face of my mother possibly contracting measles, mumps (which can make you sterile among other things), Rubella (also known as German Measles), polio, diphtheria and more, but by the time I and my brother came along, we had vaccines for most of them. I did get chicken pox at 2 days old and my brother (b. 1970) had chicken pox, but now we have a vaccine for that, too. Do vaccines work? Hell, yes! I have a smallpox vaccination scar, but born just behind me, my brother does not have one, because in the short time between our births smallpox was declared a dead disease. Smallpox was a scourge for all of recorded history up until now. Our education system sucks which is why people have no understanding of even the most basic knowledge of epidemiology (namely basic understanding of bacteria, viruses, vaccines and sanitation). It’s embarrassing, frankly. Not to mention dangerous.

[@AntelJM]

My sister, who was born in 1950, had polio at the age of two (it left her with a shortened and weaker right leg and mild breathing problems). I was born in 1971 and my mum said one of the happiest days of her life was watching me take the ‘pink sugar cube’. She thought it was nothing short of a miracle.

[@alicestevens5313]

I survived polio in 1954. My uncle and his family came to our very rural home running from a polio epidemic. My aunt had flu-like symptoms which were explained as a summer cold. Wrong it was a symptom of the polio virus. After they went home right on schedule I became very sick with the same symptoms. I had polio. I survived, had a life which has been satisfying. I have had limitations but who hasn't. I have no animus.