Polio Disaster Emergency Officially Declared Over in NY

By Rockland Daily Staff

The statewide disaster emergency declared after polio unexpectedly reappeared in New York earlier this year is "no longer necessary," according to the New York State Department of Health. 

Executive Order 21.1 gave more leniency regarding who could administer the polio vaccines. This order expired on December 8. 

According to Zach Williams from the New York Post, around 50,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered since July, and polio is showing up less frequently in water samples, so the Department of Health has declared that the state of emergency is no longer needed. 

"We have made progress – but the work to increase immunization rates and protect children from paralytic disease and other vaccine-preventable illnesses is ongoing," Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett stated on Monday.

"The work to increase immunization rates and protect children from paralytic disease and other vaccine-preventable illnesses is ongoing. We are unwavering in our commitment to keep up efforts to build out long-term vaccination strategies," Bassett said.