How many people did the polio vaccine kill?

Answer 1

There are no exact figures, but, as the most common serious side effect is due to a allergic reaction to the vaccine, and that reaction occurs less than 1 time per million doses administered, the number of fatalities directly due to the vaccine itself is extremely small.

The OPV (activated polio virus) causes polio just over 2 in a million times. The IPV (inactivated polio virus) does not cause polio at all. IPV is now the standard vaccine given in countries where polio is no longer present - OPV is the standard where polio is still endemic (as it is a bit more effective than the IPV in promoting resistance).

Overall, in the 50+ year history of the various polio vaccines, I would estimate that the total number of deaths linked to the vaccine number in the low hundreds, almost all of them due to uncontrolled allergic reactions. Which is a very low risk, considering that upwards of 20 billion vaccines have been given.

Answer 2

The polio vaccine was introduced in 1955. Before the development of the vaccine one thousand people died each year from the disease.

Answer 3

23 million people, have so far been killed by Polio. That is an estimate by the USDA.

Answer 4

don't know

Answer 5

don't know