POLIO MUST BE STOPPED – NOW

© Carol J. Hinkley Thompson

POLIO TODAY - 2009

"The Centers for Disease Control has reported that 92% of US toddlers are vaccinated against polio. Ninety-two percent sound good, until you realize that leaves more than one million US children unvaccinated.

Between 2005 and 2006, polio vaccination dropped in 20 states and in 10 large cities. While any reductions in polio vaccination are troubling, the location of the cities and states where vaccination dropped is frightening. The cities are major points of entry into the US—New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Seattle—where a nearly 4% drop was reported. It's no surprise that toddlers living in poverty have the lowest polio vaccination rates—below 87% in Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis, Phoenix, Detroit, Houston, and Seattle—rates lower than in Vietnam (Dr. R. L. Bruno; Director, Post-Polio Institute)."

THE LATE EFFECTS OF POLIO TODAY, AND TOMORROW

Polio’s late effects hits survivors 30-40 years after the attack, during which time between 50% and 75% of the motor neurons in their brains and spinal cords were impaired. With age and normal reduction in motor neurons—therefore, polio survivors may be in serious deficient by age 40. The resultant effects, that may include loss of balance, limb strength, and/or insidious breathing impairment related to the diaphragm and neuromuscular system, may lead to total disability.

Reviewing the statistics on survivors, hope has been held that this may be a time-limited disaster for survivors; however, in reality a high number of people received the Sabin vaccine in the 1960s, contracted polio—some without knowing what the illness was in fact, or had what appeared to be negligible symptoms such as a “paralyzed finger. . . “ but are now, since 1993 and presently in 2009, just finding out they have what is called PPS, or the late-effects of polio—if they can find a polio specialist. Otherwise, thousands of people are suffering now without any idea that their conditions may be related to the “late-effects” of polio, or another enterovirus.

Our few “Polio specialists” nationally have no replacements to help survivors! It’s time we refused to reduce awareness and campaigns to help others, regardless of statistics—our people are dying (Carol J Hinkley Thompson, founder, South Plains Post-Polio Support Network, and Project Blue Whale).”