Do You Need a Polio Vaccine as the Poliovirus Reemerges?
Do You Need a Polio Vaccine as the Poliovirus Reemerges?
But the poliovirus has reared its head again. Most recently, health officials noticed it in wastewater in New York City and several nearby counties, suggesting that it’s likely circulating in the area. And in July, in nearly a decade, and one that caused paralysis, was identified in an unvaccinated man in a community just north of the city, along the Hudson River. New York State Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, M.D, called the findings “alarming,” since “for every one case of paralytic polio identified, hundreds more may be undetected.” Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. That’s because most people who get infected with poliovirus do not have visible symptoms; about 1 in 4 experience flu-like illness. A much smaller proportion of people with a poliovirus infection develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord and can lead to paralysis and death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. The good news is, if you’ve been — even if it was decades ago — you don’t have much to fear when it comes to these latest discoveries, says Svea Closser, an associate professor in international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The vaccine is highly effective in fully vaccinated people, providing at least 99 percent protection against polio. And experts expect the effects to be long-lasting. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Hospital staff examine a patient in an iron lung during the polio epidemic in 1960. “We have not had a case in an adult vaccinated person in the United States for many decades,” Closser says. “If you were fully vaccinated as a kid, there’s not really any reason to worry about it at this point.” The CDC says most adults in the U.S. were vaccinated as children (the vaccine first became available in 1955), and that continues to be the case. Federal data show s that nearly 93 percent of kids are vaccinated against polio by the age of 2. Still, a share of the population remain s vulnerable to a viral illness that at one point paralyzed more than 15,000 Americans each year.
Unsure of your ? Unfortunately, there isn’t a national organization that maintains these records. The CDC suggests asking family members for your vaccine history or checking baby books or other saved documents. Some doctor’s offices hold on to this information if you know where you were taken as a child — same with . If you still can’t track down your vaccine records and are concerned, the CDC says it’s safe to repeat vaccines, and the one for polio comes with , such as soreness and redness at the injection site. There is a polio booster, but only fully vaccinated adults at increased risk of encountering the poliovirus need the onetime shot. Eligible individuals include: People who are traveling to a country where the risk of getting polio is greater Laboratory workers who may be exposed to samples of polioviruses Health care workers treating patients who have or could have polio Talk to your primary care physician if you fall into one of these categories and are interested in getting boosted.
Your Guide To Adult Vaccines
Polio Is Back Do You Need a Vaccine
The virus has popped up again in the U S and experts are keeping a close eye on its potential spread
Polio has practically been relegated to history books since 1979, when the virus that can sometimes cause permanent paralysis and death was wiped out from the U.S., thanks to highly successful vaccines.But the poliovirus has reared its head again. Most recently, health officials noticed it in wastewater in New York City and several nearby counties, suggesting that it’s likely circulating in the area. And in July, in nearly a decade, and one that caused paralysis, was identified in an unvaccinated man in a community just north of the city, along the Hudson River. New York State Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, M.D, called the findings “alarming,” since “for every one case of paralytic polio identified, hundreds more may be undetected.” Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. That’s because most people who get infected with poliovirus do not have visible symptoms; about 1 in 4 experience flu-like illness. A much smaller proportion of people with a poliovirus infection develop more serious symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord and can lead to paralysis and death, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. The good news is, if you’ve been — even if it was decades ago — you don’t have much to fear when it comes to these latest discoveries, says Svea Closser, an associate professor in international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The vaccine is highly effective in fully vaccinated people, providing at least 99 percent protection against polio. And experts expect the effects to be long-lasting. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Hospital staff examine a patient in an iron lung during the polio epidemic in 1960. “We have not had a case in an adult vaccinated person in the United States for many decades,” Closser says. “If you were fully vaccinated as a kid, there’s not really any reason to worry about it at this point.” The CDC says most adults in the U.S. were vaccinated as children (the vaccine first became available in 1955), and that continues to be the case. Federal data show s that nearly 93 percent of kids are vaccinated against polio by the age of 2. Still, a share of the population remain s vulnerable to a viral illness that at one point paralyzed more than 15,000 Americans each year.
How do you know if you re protected
People who are fully vaccinated have received four doses of the vaccine, which was once given orally; now it’s a shot. If you are partially vaccinated, meaning you’ve only had one or two doses, health officials say you should get the remaining doses, no matter how much time has elapsed. And if you haven’t been immunized, go get the polio vaccine, experts urge. You need only three shots if you are starting the series as an adult.Unsure of your ? Unfortunately, there isn’t a national organization that maintains these records. The CDC suggests asking family members for your vaccine history or checking baby books or other saved documents. Some doctor’s offices hold on to this information if you know where you were taken as a child — same with . If you still can’t track down your vaccine records and are concerned, the CDC says it’s safe to repeat vaccines, and the one for polio comes with , such as soreness and redness at the injection site. There is a polio booster, but only fully vaccinated adults at increased risk of encountering the poliovirus need the onetime shot. Eligible individuals include: People who are traveling to a country where the risk of getting polio is greater Laboratory workers who may be exposed to samples of polioviruses Health care workers treating patients who have or could have polio Talk to your primary care physician if you fall into one of these categories and are interested in getting boosted.