Polio, a highly contagious virus causing paralysis and death, has been eradicated in Canada for decades due to widespread vaccination efforts.

However, vaccine scepticism is rising, fuelled by figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently nominated by Donald Trump as U.S. health secretary. Kennedy and his legal adviser, Aaron Siri, have raised concerns about vaccine safety, including for polio and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, despite their long-standing global safety record.

In 2022, Siri petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revoke approval for the current polio vaccine, claiming its clinical trials lacked control groups and failed to meet safety standards. However, regulatory bodies, including the FDA, have deemed the vaccine safe following rigorous trials with control groups.

Kennedy, a vocal vaccine sceptic, has also promoted the discredited theory linking vaccines to autism. His comments, combined with the spread of anti-vaccine rhetoric, have sparked a surge in online searches, with questions like “What is polio?” and “Does polio still exist?” trending on Google.

In response, Trump reassured reporters that the polio vaccine would remain, stating, “You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine.” He acknowledged the severe consequences of polio, citing friends still affected by its impact.

Canadian experts, however, remain concerned. Dr Christopher Labos, a Montreal-based cardiologist and epidemiologist, warns that growing vaccine hesitancy could lead to a resurgence of polio.

“The more doubt cast on vaccine safety and effectiveness, the more vaccination rates dip. It wouldn’t take much to fall below the critical threshold needed to prevent outbreaks in the U.S. or Canada,” Labos explained.

A return to widespread polio transmission could mean more illnesses, paralysis in children, and even deaths, he cautioned, urging vigilance against misinformation and scepticism.