The Facts
On Fri., NY Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency over a polio outbreak after 57 samples of the virus were detected in sewage in Rockland, Sullivan, and Nassau counties between May and August.
The governor's order allows more health providers - including EMS workers, midwives, and pharmacists - to administer the polio vaccine, as well as requires vaccine administrators to send data to the state health department.
The Spin
Narrative A
In a world where most diseases are not eradicable, the fact that so many New Yorkers still refuse to get the polio vaccine is baffling. The disease can and already is spreading rapidly and quietly throughout the state, serving as another stark warning as to why vaccination is so important.
Narrative B
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.
