Our speaker, Johnn Nanni wears many name badges: husband, father, Rotarian, Polio Survivor and Polio Plus Chair. He related to us how much alike are both Polio and COVID-19. While Polio was the most feared disease in the 20th century, COVID-19 had that title in the 31st century (so far). The iron lung that aided polio patients breathe in the mid 20th century is now replaced by ventilators that keep COVID-19 patients breathing. While we think remote learning is new, at the height of the polio pandemic, children in Chicago stayed home and learned using the radio to keep up with their schooling. One aspect of polio that most of us don't know is post-polio syndrome. John contracted polio when he was less than a year old. His mother learned how to help his muscles so that he grew up playing basketball, baseball and football in grade school - not very well, he admits. But now, he uses a wheelchair much of the time in order to "reserve to preserve" his muscles. FDR's decline was due to the strenuous physical therapy he had. The overuse of his muscles aided in his decline. This can be noted by the use of crutches in his first term and a wheel chair in the second. John reminded us that our donations to End Polio Now Campaign are still needed. Even though there are only a couple cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, there must be at least three years without any new cases for a country or area to be declared polio free. We are close - so far in 2021 there are only two new cases of wild polio, in those regions. In 2020 140 cases were reported worldwide and in 2019 there were 173. The latest oral vaccine for polio is designed to not mutate. Malnourished children often need more than one dose and are often given Vitamin A as well. John credits the excellent results in Africa with the vaccination of village cattle for herd related health issues while vaccinating children. Post Polio Syndrome, like John has, has numerous symptoms: overwhelming fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle and joint pain, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and short term memory loss. When it comes to vaccines, John reminds us that the only way to eradicate an infectious disease only happens if everyone is protected from it. That goes for polio, and COVID-19. |