On Thurs., the New York State Health Department identified a case of polio in an unvaccinated adult male in Rockland County NY. This is the first polio case identified in the US since 2013.
The case is identified as a "revertant polio Sabin type 2 virus," meaning it originated in someone who received an oral polio vaccine. It is possible that the virus originated outside the US, where the oral vaccine is still administered, but an investigation into the origin is ongoing.
This isn't normal, and we don't want to see this. This polio case is another stark warning as to why vaccinations are so important. The polio vaccine is safe and effective and vaccinations are vital to preventing the spread of this debilitating, yet entirely preventable, disease.
Vaccines are a personal choice, and governments should not be able to mandate what individuals choose to do with their health. If people choose not to get vaccinated for any disease, that is a valid choice that must be accepted. Personal freedoms are part of America's ethos.