My uncle had polio as a child, and wore a calliper on his right leg until, after years of pain and suffering, he took his own life by swallowing Prussic acid at the age of 27, leaving his wife - my auntie - and his three year-old daughter.

I was one of the first children in the UK to be vaccinated with the Salk vaccine in 1956 (NB Donuel - it was administered by injection back then, the ‘sugar-lump’ method wasn’t introduced until a number of years later). I’m forever grateful that I was vaccinated.

I shudder to think what might happen in the US if the policy of anti-polio vaccination is abandoned. I guess Iron Lung manufacturers will be happy…