Generations after Baby Boomers were lucky to never have the risk of polio thanks to a vaccine program that eradicated the virus in the Western world by 1994.
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The first epidemic hit in the late 1800s in the US and continued to cause havoc until a vaccine was developed. The vaccine, which started to be developed in the 1930s, did not begin trials until the 1950s. In Australia, the vaccine became a part of the Australian National Immunisation Program in 1975.
Polio impacted Australia in much the same way that coronavirus has effected our way of life. In parts of Australia, borders, schools and public amenities like pools were closed and quarantine enforced.
It was a virus that affected some of the most affluent countries such as Australia, Canada, US, Denmark and Sweden.
About four million Australians were infected with the polio virus before the vaccination was introduced. The vaccine removed the fear and, in turn, made the disease a distant memory.
The speed of a coronavirus vaccine can raise issues of doubt in terms of the faith in the science world. Forget the scaremongering on various social media channels, in particular the celebrity chef Pete Evans, who claims the virus is one big hoax.
Instead, valid concerns is the trust that a vaccine has withstood rigorous testing. In stark contrast to polio, the vaccine has been trialled in adults. Children will be the very last group considered for the vaccine due to the low risk associated with contracting COVID-19 and the vaccine not being thoroughly tested against children.
With Prime Minister Scott Morrison's announcement that the vaccine would begin in February, assuming approval is given by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, came some uncertainty about whether the vaccine would remain voluntary or conditions, such as social benefits, could be attached similar to current child immunisations.
The PM referred this to the states to decide. What we do know is that the timeline has instilled hope and given the stockmarket a sugar hit.
It's positive that we are moving to a world where coronavirus will be reserved just for the history books for today's generation.
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