Polio in New York: A call to action for US pediatricians and public health to work together

Polio Returns to New York: A Wake-Up Call for Pediatricians and Public Health

Originally published in: STAT News – First Opinion
Date: August 26, 2022
Authors: Dr. Sallie Permar & Dr. Jay K. Varma

In a sobering First Opinion piece, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Sallie Permar issue a call to action for pediatricians, public health leaders, and policymakers: the reappearance of paralytic polio in New York is not a fluke—it’s a warning.

“Fighting the recirculation of polio is a war the U.S. knows how to win,” they write. “But only if it can equip the frontline — pediatricians — with the tools they need.”

A Threat We Thought Was Gone

Polio—once considered eliminated in the United States—paralyzed an unvaccinated adult in New York in 2022. Genetic analysis revealed the strain had evolved from an oral polio vaccine used overseas and was identical to strains spreading in London and Israel.

More alarming:

• The patient had no recent travel, indicating community transmission in the U.S.
• Polio virus was detected in wastewater in New York City and surrounding counties.
• In some NYC neighborhoods, up to 40% of 5-year-olds are not fully vaccinated against polio.

Why This Happened

The authors point to a breakdown in the pediatric vaccine infrastructure:

• The U.S. depends on pediatricians’ offices to administer childhood vaccines.
• Yet many pediatricians lack formal training and support to handle vaccine misinformation or improve immunization rates.
• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted well-child visits, worsening vaccination gaps.
• Weak enforcement of school vaccine mandates and rising vaccine hesitancy have further eroded immunization coverage.

Three Urgent Actions to Reverse the Trend

1. Invest in Local Public Health-Pediatrician Partnerships
   Health departments should use immunization data and EHRs to identify unvaccinated children and support pediatric practices in outreach efforts.
2. Make Routine Vaccination a Quality Metric
   High vaccination rates should become a benchmark for pediatric practice performance, like seasonal flu shot coverage. Training and quality improvement programs must be widely available.
3. Tie Financial Incentives to Immunization Rates
   Medicaid and private insurers should reward pediatricians for achieving high vaccination rates. Preventing even a single case of paralysis is cost-effective for society.

“Where polio returns, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases are not far behind,” Varma and Permar caution.

Bottom Line

This isn’t just about polio—it’s about protecting the foundation of public health. Restoring trust in vaccines, bolstering pediatric infrastructure, and supporting frontline clinicians are critical to prevent a broader collapse in vaccine-preventable disease control.

📖 Read the full article in STAT News:
👉 Polio in New York: A Call to Action for U.S. Pediatricians and Public Health