A vaccine clinic was held in Rockland County Friday, but it wasn't for COVID-19. Medical professionals instead administered polio vaccines after a Rockland County resident tested positive for polio on Monday.

"The type of polio the person has generated from someone, or was transmitted from someone who received an oral polio vaccine that we know," said Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

Health officials said this suggests the virus may have originated in a location outside of the U.S. where the oral vaccine is administered.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no polio cases have originated in the United States since 1979.

The state Health Department is still investigating how the patient, who is unvaccinated for polio, contracted the virus. That patient is currently experiencing some form of paralysis. Now, the health department is on high alert for more cases.

What You Need To Know

  • The CDC says no cases of polio have originated in the United States since 1979

  • Rockland County's health commissioner said the type of polio the person has generated from someone, or was transmitted from someone, who received an oral polio vaccine outside of the U.S.

  • Rockland County will hold another polio vaccine clinic from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 25 in the Pomona Health Complex (Building A) at 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona

"Any unvaccinated person or someone in very close contact, especially someone who’s completely or insufficiently vaccinated, would be at risk," said Ruppert.

That’s why health officials set up a polio vaccine clinic for the community. Only 18 people showed up the first day.

"Anyone in Rockland really should evaluate their vaccination status, and if they are fully vaccinated against polio, they’re very, very, very low risk," said Ruppert.

Polio is a virus that can affect the neurological system, cause muscle weakness and even result in paralysis or death. Ruppert said most people infected with polio have no symptoms.

Todd Messler, a Rockland County resident, was not taking any chances. He came out to get his shot.

"I’m 64 years old and I don’t know when I got it and whether it was oral or not. The mark on my arm is even gone, so why not?" said Messler.

He worries that viruses like polio, which the CDC says has been eliminated in the United States, will start to spread again.

Although the polio vaccine is part of the CDC’s list of standard immunizations, children need it before starting school. Rockland health officials are concerned that some parents are delaying vaccinating their children, or are just rejecting the required shots.

"That has been a concern that we've had, and we've been working on as far as educational outreach for years," said Ruppert. "But certainly, more recently, as many people, especially with the COVID pandemic, did not go to their providers and receive the vaccinations that are required."

Messler got his shot inside the clinic and said he was feeling better protected.

"I feel better. It’s a completely dead virus. It's definitely the way to go," he said.

Ruppert said you cannot get polio from the inactivated or "dead" vaccine, and that it is completely safe and highly effective. State and county health officials are now investigating if there are more cases of polio circulating.

"For us to see one case of paralytic polio means that there could be other cases that have not been identified, but that is the reason we must have people get vaccinated."

Rockland County will be holding another polio vaccine clinic on Monday, July 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pomona Health Complex (Building A) at 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona, but you can also reach out to your doctor to get the vaccine.