The Measles Epidemic

[arewethereyet]

I recall three years in a row coming down with measles, chicken pox and mumps, maybe not in that order. I do remember that I caught mumps during summer and was pissed that it wasn't at a time that I'd miss school. All of those diseases swept through the neighbourhood and all my friends were sick at the same times. That was during the mid-1950's when there were no vaccinations for those diseases yet. The only vaccination we received at the time was for polio. I can remember being in line for that shot at school. I think it had to be repeated every three years.

I remember lining up for our sugar cube with a pink drop in it...the polio vaccine.

From middle school on I was in school with a girl who had contracted polio when she was quite young.  I don't know what all she went through but by the time I met her she had one leg much smaller than the other and that leg was also turned out to the side a bit.  She had a very noticeable limp.  It wasn't till I met her that I knew part of the reason for those sugar cubes.