What to make of the news about polio vaccine boosters for children in London
The UK Health Security Agency has announced that, because of concerns about traces of the polio virus that has been found in some sewage treatment centres, all children aged 1 to 9 years old in London will be offered a polio vaccine. This is big news in the UK and we know the headlines are worrying, so we have looked into the current information available to see what it might mean for parents.
Strains of polio have been found in sewage treatment centres in several London boroughs over recent weeks. This is, of course, worrying news as polio is an illness we don’t often have cause to think about since Europe was declared polio-free back in 2003.
Polio is a serious infection that can, in the worst cases, cause paralysis. In the UK, the last recorded case was in 1984, and children are vaccinated against polio as part of their routine vaccinations.
It is important to clarify that, currently, the type of polio identified in the sewage samples comes from ‘live’ vaccines, not a large number of cases of polio spreading. These ‘live’ vaccines are a kind which are no longer given in the UK, but are still sometimes used overseas.
The concern within the medical field is that there is a risk of the disease mutating, and bringing serious complications if it can spread through communities.
So, what do you do if you live in London?
The UK Health Security Agency has announced that all children aged between 1 and 9 years old in all London boroughs will be offered a dose of polio vaccine.
You should be contacted by your child’s GP within the next month if your child is included in this category. This leaflet for parents (pdf) contains more information from the HSA.
This dose of the polio vaccine will act as a booster for children who are up to date with their immunisations. For children who are behind on their polio vaccine, this dose will replace the missed one.
What about the risk for people outside of London?
Currently, there is no indication that people outside of London need to make any changes to their routine. You can, of course, make sure your child’s polio vaccinations are all up to date.
The UK Health Security Agency has plans in motion to expand sewage testing to include sites outside of London. If these tests reveal any cause for concern, they will update their advice to cover other areas of the UK.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, has made a statement in which she stresses that the risk of serious illness is low, but being up to date with vaccines is essential to keep it that way.
She said: “No cases of polio have been reported and for the majority of the population, who are fully vaccinated, the risk is low... It is vital parents ensure their children are fully vaccinated for their age. Following JCVI advice, all children aged 1 to 9 years in London need to have a dose of polio vaccine now – whether it’s an extra booster dose or just to catch up with their routine vaccinations. It will ensure a high level of protection from paralysis. This may also help stop the virus spreading further.”