For decades, there was no community transmission of polio in the United States. Though still rare, polio is back in the news.
The New York State Department of Health recently reported a case in Rockland County, and then the virus was found in the New York City sewer system.
For those with young children, the news about polio may be of special concern. Polio is highly infectious and life-threatening. Those who have received the routine polio vaccine series are protected. For young children, it’s important to check that everyone is up to date.
Here are five key takeaways from the experts at Mount Sinai.
Young children may be at risk.
Some families have not been able to stay up to date with the standard childhood immunizations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This leaves many children at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, such as polio. If your child is behind on vaccines for polio, varicella, and other conditions, schedule a doctor’s appointment soon. “It’s really important now that everybody check to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations,” says Kristin Oliver, MD, MHS, a pediatrician and preventive medicine physician at the Mount Sinai Health System.
It’s important for parents to stay up to date on getting their children vaccinated. Health authorities recommend children get four doses of polio vaccine. They should get one dose at each of the following ages: 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 through 18 months old, and 4 through 6 years old. You can find out if you child has been vaccinated by checking with your doctor or checking the New York City Department of Health website.
Children who are in the middle of their vaccine series should complete the series as scheduled.
They do not need to receive earlier or additional doses. Children who have had one or two doses of polio vaccine in the past should get the remaining doses when they are due. It does not matter how long it has been since the earlier dose(s).
Most adults ages 18 and over living in the United States are presumed to be immune to poliovirus from previous routine childhood immunization.
Adults who know they have not been vaccinated for polio, should start the vaccination series as soon as possible.
Most people who get infected with poliovirus will not have any visible symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in four people will have flu-like symptoms that last from two to five days and then go away. A smaller number of people will develop more serious symptoms, such as meningitis, an infection of the brain or spinal cord. Paralysis occurs in about 1 out of 200 to 1 in 2,000 people, and can lead to permanent disability.
If you want to discuss your child’s vaccination status, schedule an appointment with your doctor through MyMountSinai, Find a Doctor, or by calling the office directly. For assistance finding a new physician call 1-800-MD-SINAI or search on our Find a Doctor platform.
More detailed information is available from the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.