New York State Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. Mary T. Bassett, has declared Polio an "imminent threat" to public health. In response to the announcement, the State Department of Health is expanding resources for vaccine efforts at local health departments.
"Working daily with local county health departments, our partners at CDC, and trusted leaders, the Department is working effectively to increase childhood and community vaccination rates in counties where the virus has been detected," Dr. Bassett said.
"Thanks to long-established school immunization requirements, the vast majority of adults, and most children, are fully vaccinated against polio. Our focus remains on ensuring the on-time administration of polio vaccination among young children and catching kids and adults up who are unimmunized and under-immunized in the affected areas," added the Commissioner.
The Department of Health will continue to monitor the potential spread and work with local health officials and community partners to increase childhood vaccination rates.