London, United Kingdom (UK)- The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), has announced that all children aged one to nine in London are to be offered a dose of the polio vaccine.
This comes after more of the polio virus was found in the city’s sewers in areas such as Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest.
According to the Health Security Agency (HSA), the move will help strengthen protection against polio-related paralysis in London and interrupt transmission of the virus.
“Polio is a serious infection that can cause paralysis but nationally the overall risk is considered low because most people are protected by vaccination.
The last case of polio in the UK was in 1984, but decades ago before we introduced the polio vaccination programme around 8 000 people would develop paralysis every year.
Following JCVI advice all children aged one to nine 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 from spreading further,” said Dr. Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at HSA.
In addition, Health Secretary, Steve Barclay said vaccines offer the best defence to children, and encouraged families to ensure their children are vaccinated.
“Vaccines offer the best defence to children, and those around them, so I would encourage families to ensure they are up to date with their routine jabs, and to come forward for the polio booster as soon as they are contacted by the NHS (National Health Service).
Whilst no one has been diagnosed with polio in the UK and the risk remains low, I am accepting the advice from the JCVI to offer children aged one to nine in London a booster. Areas, where it’s been detected, will be first,” said Barclay.
Vaccine uptake in London is already lower than in the rest of the country at 90 percent, compared to 95 percent nationally.
The HSA declared a national incident in June after traces of the virus were found during routine surveillance at the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works.
Polio is a contagious virus that can be transmitted through coughs and sneezes, but also through food, water, or objects that have been in contact with the feces of someone infected with it.
It has flu-like symptoms, including, a high temperature, extreme tiredness, headaches, vomiting, and a stiff neck and muscle pain. These usually last for ten days, but can result in more serious symptoms and is potentially life-threatening. It mainly affects children under the age of five, although it can also impact unvaccinated adults.
