As routine vaccination rates fall, polio survivor hopes her story reverses urgent trend – CBC

Public health experts say pandemic-related clinic closures led to drop in pediatric immunizations

Oct 15, 2022

When Miki Boleen sees new parents in her doctor’s office, she often asks if they’ve immunized their child against polio — a disease that immobilized her.

Her desire is not to frighten, but with vaccination rates declining in babies and toddlers due to missed routine immunizations at the start of the pandemic, she hopes her story will help others stay healthy. Boleen, 83, suggests people talk to their doctor — and with others who’ve had infectious diseases that can be prevented with vaccines.

Her message is simple: Why not consider immunization and prevent an avoidable serious illness?

“Please, please get your children immunized,” the Abbotsford, B.C., resident said in a conversation with Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC Radio’s White Coat, Black Art. “You don’t want them ending up like me.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/polio-wcba-miki-boleen-1.6615290