Polio and COVID19 – Then and Now From Three Polio Survivors

By the PA Immunization Coalition (PAIC)

LIVING THROUGH POLIO AND COVID-19: HISTORIC PARALLELS

“One of the most prominent similarities in the two viruses is the existence of debilitating, persistent adverse health effects in some of the exposed. Both long-haul COVID-19 and post-polio syndrome occur in a subset of survivors.” “Young and old, and otherwise healthy people can still suffer from persistent COVID-19 symptoms despite recovering and testing negative for the virus.”

“There are countless people who contracted and survived polio in the 1940s-50s that live with the effects of Post-Polio Syndrome today, and now they are living through yet another pandemic with COVID-19. PAIC had the unique opportunity to speak with three polio survivors from the PA Polio Survivors Network who were willing to share their extraordinary experiences and unique perspectives on COVID-19.”

Deborah ‘Deb’ Stambaugh was five years old, living in Petersburg, West Virginia when she felt ill while playing outside of her family home in the summer of 1954.

Shirley Smith was born in 1938 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. One day, 12-year old Shirley was too tired to feed the chickens or hold her 9-month-old niece.

Joe Randig started school in September of 1952 when he didn’t feel well two weeks later. Coming in from playing outside early, his mother grew concerned. He had a fever, headache, and stiff neck.

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