Polio is Back? New York Declares State of Emergency Over Disease to Boost Vaccine Uptake
New York has declared a state of emergency over a resurgence of the Poliovirus, in an effort to raise awareness and boost vaccine uptake against the disease.
The state discovered its first case of polio in over ten years back in July, after an unvaccinated person caught the disease and suffered paralysis. The sudden resurgence prompted the state to conduct routine wastewater analysis, and is now declaring a state of emergency in order to increase vaccinations after finding positive samples in four countries across the New York Metropolitan area.
Unvaccinated persons who live, work, or attend school in either Orange, Rockland, Nassau, New York City and Sullivan face the highest risk of catching the disease, health officials warn. “On polio, we simply cannot roll the dice,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. “I urge New Yorkers to not accept any risk at all. Polio immunization is safe and effective— protecting nearly all people against disease who receive the recommended doses.” The emergency declaration will also increase the number of vaccine administrators in the state to include EMS workers, pharmacists, and midwives.
According to New York health department data, some counties have alarmingly low vaccine uptakes, with a vaccination rate of 58% in Orange, 60% in Rockland, 62% in Sullivan, and 79% in Nassau. Overall, about 79% of the New York population is vaccinated against the disease.
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