Health Officials Check Polio Vaccination Rates in Rockland Schools

by M. C. Millman

After polio was reported in samples of Rockland wastewater from early June, Rockland County health officials have begun double-checking the vaccination rates of Rockland's children as they are considered most vulnerable to polio. 

One Rockland resident was left paralyzed last month after coming down with the first case of polio in the nation since 2013. As a result, there has been a surge in polio vaccinations for people of various ages.

The polio virus was detected solely in the wastewater of Rockland County Sewer District #1, which serves large portions of Ramapo and Clarkstown and some parcels of Orangetown. County health officials ensured that polio was not detected in the Orangetown Sewer District area during the same period.

According to State Health Department records, most schools in Rockland County meet State vaccination requirements, with at least 98% of students vaccinated against polio. Out of 144 schools, 96% of schools are over 90% immunized, 3% of schools are 80-90% immunized, and less than 1% of schools are 79% immunized. 

On Monday, County Executive Ed Day met with the leaders of the Rockland Board of Cooperative Education Services. The board agreed to send letters to school districts about vaccination requirements.

Additionally, Day is working to ensure immunization information will be reviewed at the start of the 2022-23 school year to ensure compliance in all public and private schools.

"Many of you may be too young to remember polio, but when I was growing up, this disease struck fear in families, including my own," Day said in a news release. "The fact that it is still around decades after the vaccine was created shows you just how relentless it is. Do the right thing for your child and the greater good of your community and have your child vaccinated now."