Polio is a serious disease caused by the poliovirus that can cause permanent paralysis or even death. The only effective way to protect yourself against polio is to get immunized. There is no cure for polio.
75% who are infected will not experience any symptoms but can still spread the disease to others.
Approximately 25% will experience flu-like symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Stomach pain
A small amount of people will experience the most severe symptoms of polio such as:
- Meningitis
- Severe muscle pains
- Stiffness in the neck and back
- Paralysis
- Death
There is no cure for polio. The only protection is immunization.
Yes. Polio is highly contagious and can spread rapidly in an unimmunized population.
The main way polio is spread is through contact with the fecal matter of an infected person. It can also be spread through contact with droplets from the sneeze or cough of an infected person, or via contact with a contaminated body of water.
The only effective protection from polio is immunization. Everyone is encouraged to get immunized.
- Anyone not fully immunized - including children, adults, and pregnant women
- Infants
- Immunocompromised Individuals
- Children under 2 who have not completed their immunization schedule
Yes. Polio immunization is not new. It has been in use for almost 70 years and is proven to be very effective. The use of immunization has almost completely eradicated polio worldwide.
Unimmunized adults and children who did not receive their routine shots in the past, should receive 3 doses of the immunization, with one dose each at:
- Immediately
- 4-8 weeks after the first dose
- 6-12 months after the second dose
People who have been fully immunized but will have contact with cases due to spread in their community or other potential exposures should consider a booster.
People who do not know if they have been immunized should contact their healthcare provider to determine their immunization status. If it still cannot be determined a booster should be considered.
Stay at home and away from other people, and call your healthcare provider.
Post-polio syndrome is a condition that can affect polio survivors about 15 to 40 years after recovery from polio.
Symptoms can include:
- Slow progressive muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Muscle atrophy
- Loss of muscle function
- Pain from joint degeneration and increasing skeletal deformities such as curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
The routine childhood immunization schedule is as follows:
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 through 18 months old
- 4 through 6 years old
During an outbreak an accelerated routine childhood immunization schedule is recommended as follows:
- 1 dose at age 6 weeks or older
- a second dose 4 or more weeks after the first dose
- a third dose 4 or more weeks after the second dose
- a fourth dose 6 or more months after the third dose
Adults who have had 1 or 2 doses of polio vaccine in the past should get the remaining 1 or 2 doses. It does not matter how long it has been since the earlier dose(s)
Please call before arrival:
Rockland County Department Of Health
Immunization Clinic
50 Sanatorium Road, Building A, 2nd Floor
Pomona, NY 10970
Tel: 845-238-1956
Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30am - 11:00am
by appointment only: https://on.ny.gov/3R2Xo2v
Good Samaritan Hospital
257 Lafayette Ave, Suffern, NY 10901
Tel: 845-368-5000
CFH at New City
260 N Little Tor Rd New City, NY, 10956-2627
Tel: 845-999-3060
Hudson River Healthcare Spring Valley
2 Perlman Drive, Spring Valley, NY 10977-5245
Tel: 845-573-9860
Community Medical and Dental Care
40 Robert Pitt Drive
Monsey, NY 10952-3333
Tel: 845-352-6800
September Thursdays
10:00am – 1:00pm
10 N. Madison Ave, Spring Valley
(across from the post office)
Hudson River Healthcare Haverstraw
31 W Broad Street, Haverstraw, NY 10927-1615
Tel: 845-429-4499
MedRite Urgent Care
175 NY-59, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Tel: 845-694-8888
Monsey Health Center
40 Robert Pitt Drive, Monsey, NY 10952
Tel: 845-352-6800
Refuah Health Center New Square
728 N Main St, New Square, NY 10977
Tel: 845 -354-9300
Refuah Health Center Spring Valley
5 Twin Ave, Spring Valley
Tel: (845) 354-9300
Cornerstone Family Healthcare
At Jawonio New City
260 N Little Tor Road
New City, NY 10956-2627
Tel: 845-999-3060
En Su Casa Primary Health Care
25 South Main Street, Suite E
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Tel: 845-499-5496
Rockland County Department of Health
Spring Valley Clinic
14 South Main Street
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Tel: 845-364-2531
By appointment only for current patients.
Sun River Health Haverstraw
31 W Broad Street
Haverstraw, NY 10927-1615
Tel: 845-429-4499
Sun River Health Spring Valley
2 Perlman Drive
Spring Valley, NY 10977-5245
Tel: 845-573-9860