60 Seconds for Tips on Thursday: Polio and COVID and History Repeating Itself

<p>Hello to you listening in <a href="https://visitnewlondon.org/">New London, Connecticut</a>!</p><p>Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is 60 Seconds, your daily dose of hope, imagination, wisdom, stories, practical tips, and general riffing on this and that.</p><p>We interrupt our regular broadcast to bring you a blast from the past.</p><p>When I was a very young girl polio was still a crippling and potentially deadly disease. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/the-anti-vaccine-movement-is-forgetting-the-polio-epidemic/381986/">Dr. Jonas Salk</a> discovered the polio vaccine in 1954. Was it hailed as a miracle? No. Were Americans thrilled? No. Did everyone turn out to get the vaccine? No. There were anti-vaxers back then. Some - like columnist Walter Winchell - spread falsehoods about the vaccine in radio broadcasts. But! Following the (Salk) polio vaccine injection in 1955 and the (Sabin) oral poliovirus vaccine in 1961, polio incidence declined <i>rapidly!</i> The last case of wild (not oral live virus vaccine variety) poliovirus in the US was finally eradicated in 1979, 45 years after the vaccine was discovered.</p><p>I guess COVID is just another example of history repeating itself until we get it right. I can’t make you get a vaccine or wear a mask to protect yourself; all I can say is look at history. When people got on board to beat polio, they did. This time we don’t have 45 years. </p><p><i>This is the place to thrive together. Come for the stories - stay for the magic. <strong>Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, follow, share a nice shout out on your social media or podcast channel of choice, including Android, and join us next time!</strong> You’re invited to stop by the website and subscribe to stay current with Diane, her journeys, her guests, as well as creativity, imagination, walking, stories, camaraderie, and so much more</i>: <a href="https://www.quartermoonstoryarts.net">Quarter Moon Story Arts</a></p><p>Production Team: <a href="https://www.qu