Donna Gaffney and Teri Mills, known as “The OpEd Nurses,” have penned a powerful and timely piece published in Newsweek titled “When Did We Stop Being Afraid of Polio?” These veteran nurse leaders draw on their extensive healthcare experience to address critical public health concerns. In their latest opinion piece, Gaffney and Mills remind us of the devastating impact of polio in the mid-20th century and warn against complacency in the face of current vaccine skepticism.
The authors begin with a poignant quote from Peg Kehret’s book “Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio”:
Some of the kids never stopped crying, not from pain, but from fear and loneliness. – Peg Kehret
This evocative opening sets the stage for a powerful argument about the critical importance of vaccination and the dangers of forgetting history’s hard-learned lessons. Gaffney and Mills skillfully weave together historical context, personal anecdotes, and scientific facts to illustrate the potential consequences of current anti-vaccine sentiments.
The authors draw a stark contrast between the desperate search for a polio vaccine in the 1950s and the present-day vaccine skepticism, exemplified by the potential appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary. They warn that such a move could undermine decades of progress in public health and potentially lead to a resurgence of preventable diseases.
By reminding readers of the physical, emotional, and social toll of polio on children and families, Gaffney and Mills make a compelling case for the continued importance of vaccination. Their piece serves as both a stark reminder of the past and an urgent call to action to protect public health in the present and future.
Meet the team behind the Op-Ed Nurses!
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Great job, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
My city hospital.
Philadelphia General cared for.so.many very sick and paralyzed patients on a General ward in the 1953 years. It was an experience forever remembered.
Jeanne
I have no website.
Thank you for sharing your experience Jeanne!