It is bizarre for me – a child of the ‘80s – to read about the resurgence of illnesses such as polio and measles. And it’s more bizarre still to read the conspiracy theories surrounding inoculation against them — and the reluctance of some parents to do so. When I was a kid, measles was still common but easily fixed with a brief visit to a doctor, but polio was an illness of the past, like smallpox or diphtheria – a disease our grandparents might have suffered.
In July 2022, however, the WHO was notified of the first case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Algeria — a mutated strain from the weakened one used in oral polio vaccines. Perhaps this example has been used by those who prefer not to believe in the power of vaccines to confirm that vaccines don’t work. Nevertheless, polio is back in the spotlight – despite positive steps towards eradication in recent years, and UK authorities in London are taking no risks by advising vaccinations after the discovery of polio in sewage. In the US, the CDC has coordinated an investigation alongside New York state authorities concerning a case of paralytic polio. So how did we arrive at a point where health authorities need to take such action?
I
Read more at: https://themedicinemaker.com/business-regulation/immunization-versus-ignorance
