Vaccine Choice Canada Polio - Disease & Vaccine Information

Polio

Polio is a disease purportedly caused by the polio virus; however approximately 95% of people who are exposed to the virus will have no clinical symptoms of illness. In less than 1% of cases, polio infects the central nervous system and paralyzes the muscles needed for breathing and swallowing. Full recovery usually occurs within 10 days. [46] The last case of wild poliomyelitis acquired in the US occurred in 1979. All recent cases have been caused by the oral polio vaccine.

The Vaccine

The polio vaccine is cultured in cells from African monkeys and serum from newborn calves.

The IPV vaccine does not prevent infection or transmission.

Third world countries continue to use the oral vaccine (OPV) which is a live virus vaccine. The oral vaccine can cause vaccine-strain polio in the vaccinated person and in persons who come in contact with a recently vaccinated person’s body fluids.
The polio vaccine is usually administered in a combination shot that also contain vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (DTaP-IPV). Additional vaccines may also include Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) and/or hepatitis B vaccine (TB). The risks associated with combination vaccines have not been tested.
Most provinces include a vaccine for polio at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months; and 4 – 6 years old.

Considerations for the Vaccine Decision

Polio is the cultural story that forms most parent’s perception of vaccines. The common belief is that polio was a wide spread paralyzer of children and the vaccine saved us from the scourge of polio. The reality is more complex and the benefit of the vaccine less compelling.
Infantile paralysis can be caused by various types of poisoning including bacterial contamination, insecticide spraying, and the contamination of water and food by toxic chemicals.
There is compelling evidence that the paralytic condition that emerged suddenly in western industrialized nations at the turn of the century was due primarily to the widespread use of toxic pesticides using copper, arsenic, lead, and DDT.
Infantile paralysis is still common in third world countries where the use of these neurotoxic chemicals is prevalent, and in countries that use the oral live virus vaccine.
The risk of contracting wild polio in Canada is virtually zero.
Dr. Paul Thomas advises that there is no reason for a 2 month old living in the western hemisphere to get the polio vaccine. [47]

The polio vaccine has not been proven safer than polio infection.

As of March 31, 2023, there have been 81,080 reports of adverse events associated with polio containing vaccines with 1,708 deaths. [48]
A US HHS study acknowledged that less than 1% of vaccine adverse events are reported. [49]
The safety of the polio vaccine has not been proven against a true placebo.

For more information:

National Vaccine Information Centre – https://www.nvic.org/disease-vaccine/polio
Physicians for Informed Consent – physiciansforinformedconsent.org/polio
Turtles All the Way Down, 2022. Pp. 369 – 495

References

[46] Mehndiratta MM, Mehndiratta P, Pande R Poliomyelitis Historical Facts, Epidemiology, and Current Challenges in Eradication Neurohospitalist. 2014 Oct; 4(4): 223–229

[47] The Vaccine Friendly Plan. Paul Thomas, MD. 2016. P. 123

[48] https://www.nvic.org/disease-vaccine/polio/quick-facts

[49] Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System – https://digital.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/docs/publication/r18hs017045-lazarus-final-report-2011.pdf

Vaccine Product Monographs

DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenza)

Product: Infanrix Hexa (GSK)

Product Monograph: https://ca.gsk.com/media/6247/infanrix-hexa.pdf (35 pages)

Patient Information sheet:

Manufacturer website: https://ca.gsk.com/en-ca/products/

DTaP-IPV-Hib (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b)