Polio live oral vaccine: Here's why the US stopped using it years ago
First case of polio in the US in years was detected this week in New York — here's what to know about polio vaccinesUS records first polio case in nearly a decade
Fox News' Lauren Green on the investigation into how a 20-year-old unvaccinated man contracted polio.
An unvaccinated Rockland County, N.Y., resident exposed to an individual who received an oral poliovirus vaccine contracted the neurological disease and is now paralyzed, according to Rockland County and New York State Health Officials on Thursday, as Fox News Digital reported earlier.
The case raises the issue of polio vaccinations — and what Americans should know to protect their health.
"Based on what we know about this case and polio in general, the Department of Health strongly recommends that unvaccinated individuals get vaccinated or boosted with the FDA-approved IPV [inactivated] polio vaccine as soon as possible," State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in a release from the N.Y. State Department of Health that was provided to Fox News Digital.
NEW YORK COUNTY OFFICIAL URGES RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED AFTER FIRST CASE OF POLIO IN YEARS
Health officials said on Thursday that the oral vaccine — which contains live strands of the poliovirus — is no longer used in the U.S.
However, it is still used in many countries, including those in Eastern Europe.
Officials could not confirm where the individual who received the oral polio vaccine was from or where the person who is ill encountered this person.
The patient began experiencing symptoms about a month ago; state and county health officials began investigating and contact tracing.
"The fact is, the urgency of safe and effective vaccines has always been here, and we need New Yorkers to protect themselves against completely preventable viruses like polio."
Pop-up polio vaccination clinics have been established this past week and for next week as well.
RESOURCE: https://www.foxnews.com/health..../polio-oral-vaccine-
