Letter: On polio, COVID-19 and vaccines

In recounting Alaskans’ polio experience in the 1950s, the gist of Michael Carey’s well-written commentary, “Alaskans rallied around vaccines for polio. What has happened to us?” is a very good one. It encourages all of us to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. But at this late date, I fear that most unvaccinated Alaskans have made up their minds. Like an unrelenting Penny in the acclaimed movie, “O Brother, Where Art Thou,” they have “spoken (their) piece and counted to three.” If this is true, and Michael’s commentary changed only a few minds, I believe that his efforts were still worthwhile and important.

Like other Americans, Michael pointed out that Alaskans “could not accept … the death and deformity polio brought to the homes of the innocent.” Very true. Because polio especially threatened children, vaccination against it was embraced country-wide.

Polio struck our family hard in Anchorage’s Mountain View neighborhood. Fifteen months older than me, my older brother contracted polio here in 1952. He must have had an early Alaska case, because it took too long for my terrified parents to find the Anchorage physician who accurately diagnosed the cause of his failing legs. Tragically, this young doctor soon perished in an airplane crash, and our parents moved their little family Outside to find further medical treatment for their stricken boy.

Before we left Alaska, my father did what he could to help his two-year-old son. He sat my brother on a platform nailed to a spruce tree to help straighten his legs and built a clever swing to exercise them. Throughout his life, my brother has lived with his polio-related disability with courage and tenacity. It slows his mobility, but has not dimmed his positive outlook and success.Once it became available, my family, along with most families, accepted polio vaccination enthusiastically — and vaccination against diseases of various kinds ever since. Once disease strikes you and yours, vaccination is especially seen as a blessing.

In my view, and given the careful science behind it, vaccination against COVID-19 is a no-brainer for eligible Alaskans. Even though this virus’ principal targets and death rates are different than polio, I also don’t want to be “that guy” who unnecessarily contracts COVID-19 and then unwittingly passes it along to more vulnerable people who suffer more than me. Vaccination is an easy way to serve and protect others, even people we never meet.

— Larry D. Wood

Eagle River

Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.