Our Secretary of Health and Human Services is totally wrong
National Library of Medicine on the 1955 "Cutter Incident" led to the only spate of deaths - 10 in total - attributed the first polio vaccine, caused by improper manufacture:
In the end, at least 220 000 people were infected with live polio virus in Cutter's vaccine (including 100 000 contacts of immunized children), 70 000 developed muscle weakness, 164 were severely paralyzed, and 10 died.World Health Organization:
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, frequent epidemics saw polio become the most feared disease in the world. A major outbreak in New York City in 1916 killed over 2000 people, and the worst recorded US outbreak in 1952 killed over 3000.
Many who survived the disease faced lifelong consequences. Deformed limbs meant they needed leg braces, crutches or wheelchairs, and some needed to use breathing devices like the iron lung, an artificial respirator invented for treatment of polio patients.
Until the vaccines became widespread and mandatory, annual polio deaths averaged arund 2,000.
