Extra polio vaccine dose for children in London
Polio is a serious infection caused by a virus (poliovirus) that can affect the brain and nerves – this can cause permanent paralysis of muscles which makes you unable to move part or all of your body. It is rare but can be very serious for unvaccinated people.
Poliovirus has been found in sewage in London and there are signs polio may be spreading between people.
The best way to prevent polio is to make sure that you and your child are up to date with your vaccinations. The polio vaccine is offered to children as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccinations; these are the vaccines that are offered to all babies and children for free by the NHS. The chance of getting ill from polio is higher if you are not fully vaccinated against it.
FAQs
Why is polio back in the news?
Polio is not back in England. There have been no clinical cases of wild polio in England. The last case of wild polio in the UK was in 1984 and the UK was declared polio-free by the WHO in 2003.
Since February 2022 traces of type 2 poliovirus have been detected in sewage samples in North and East London. It has been detected in sewage in Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.
The polio virus found in London should not pose any risk to those who are fully vaccinated. However, whilst it is spreading, there is a small chance that those who have not been fully vaccinated, or those who cannot respond well to vaccines, could be at risk of catching polio. The good news is that the virus has been picked up early and action now will protect people. It is important that children are vaccinated against polio so they are protected and to reduce the risk of the virus continuing to spread. Please come forward as soon as your child is invited.
I’m a clinically vulnerable/elderly adult – what’s my risk? Why am I not being offered an extra booster?
The risk to the population is extremely low as the majority of the UK population has already been immunised against polio. If you are up to date with your routine immunisations, you will be protected against polio and your risk of getting ill from polio will be low.
When would my child have been vaccinated against polio?
The polio vaccine is free and given as part of combined jabs to babies, toddlers and teenagers. Children need all five doses of the vaccine to be fully protected against polio. The polio vaccine is given when a child is:
- 8, 12 and 16 weeks old as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB)
- 3 years and 4 months old as part of the 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV) pre-school booster
- 14 years old as part of the 3-in-1 (Td/IPV) teenage booster
What is being offered to children aged 1 to 9 in London?
In London, all children aged 1-9 years are being offered a dose of polio vaccine - whether it’s an extra dose if they are up to date with their routine vaccinations or to catch up. This is part of the incident response to ensure a high level of protection from paralysis and to help stop the virus spreading further. The booster dose will be offered to children in the areas where type 2 poliovirus has been detected in wastewater first and then offered to all London boroughs.
Why are children that are up to date with their routine vaccinations being offered an additional dose in London? Are all 1-9 year olds being offered a polio booster?
Experts have advised that, as a precaution, all children aged one to nine years in London should be offered a dose of polio vaccine now to ensure that they are protected against polio and to stop any further spread of poliovirus in London. This is because children in this age range have not received the full programme of vaccination so they are not yet fully protected against polio. By getting a dose now this will boost their protection against polio. In London, all children aged 1-9 years are being offered a dose of polio vaccine. This will either be a top up dose in children that are fully up to date with their routine vaccinations or a catch up dose.
Is this an extra jab? Will children that need to catch up with their missed routine vaccination/s then get an additional dose on top of that?
We need to protect children against polio now. Bringing a child up to date now will achieve the same effect as the offer of an additional booster - so those who are brought up to date don't need an extra dose further down the line.
For children that are fully up to date with their routine vaccinations, this will be an additional polio vaccine to enhance their protection against polio whilst it is being detected in wastewater samples. If your child is not up to date with their routine vaccinations they will be given a catch up dose so it will not be an additional dose.
Will my child still need their regular dose at 3yrs 4 months if they received the booster?
Even after your child receives an extra dose, you need to complete the routine doses at the recommended age. Check with your GP surgery.
If my child is up to date with their routine vaccinations and due to get their pre-school booster will they be offered a dose of polio vaccine?
It is important that children aged 1 to 9 years in London get vaccinated against polio now. When you are contacted by the NHS you should come forwards to ensure that your child is protected and they will advise on what vaccine you child receives.
Why can’t my child just wait for their regularly timed vaccine?
Getting a dose of polio vaccine now will immediately boost you child’s protection against polio. This will ensure that they are protected against polio and to stop any further spread of poliovirus in London. Children in this age range have not received the full programme of vaccination so they are not yet fully protected against polio.
