Children being offered polio boosters after more traces of virus found in sewage
All children between the ages of 1 and 9 in Greater London being offered a first or extra dose of the vaccine
Last updated 11th Aug 2022
Almost a million children aged one to nine across London are to be offered a polio vaccine to try to prevent the spread of the virus.
Health officials warned there has been "some transmission" across the capital after detecting poliovirus in sewage samples.
Polio, which was officially eradicated in the UK in 2003, can cause paralysis in rare cases and can be life-threatening.
While there have been no confirmed cases, officials are taking action over the rising number of samples found in sewage in London.
Type 2 poliovirus (PV2) was first collected from the Beckton sewage treatment works earlier this year. Now - further upstream sampling undertaken by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - at least one one positive sample of the poliovirus has been identified as currently present in parts of several boroughs: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.
Officials said levels of the virus found in sewage and their "genetic diversity" suggests "some virus transmission in these boroughs".
As a result officials are to launch a rapid vaccination programme among youngsters in London, where there are lower levels of uptake of the vaccine.
Vaccination rates in the capital are well below recommended levels and there is a risk that "under-vaccinated" children can pass the infection to others.
Children in London aged one to nine who are not yet fully vaccinated will be offered a catch-up dose, while those who have already been fully vaccinated will be offered a booster.
Youngsters will be offered a dose within the next four weeks, with officials hoping to vaccinate all those invited within six weeks.
In total 116 samples have been found since February, the UKHSA said, although officials stressed this does not equate to 116 cases as they may have found samples from the same person on multiple occasions.
The programme will start in the areas where the virus has been detected in sewage and then be extended across all London boroughs.
Other countries, including the USA and Belgium, already offer an additional dose of the polio vaccine.
"No cases of polio have been reported and for the majority of the population, who are fully vaccinated, the risk is low. "
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:" we know the areas in London where the poliovirus is being transmitted have some of the lowest vaccination rates.
"This is why the virus is spreading in these communities and puts those residents not fully vaccinated at greater risk."
Jane Clegg, chief nurse for the NHS in London, added: "While the majority of Londoners are protected from polio, the NHS will shortly be contacting parents of eligible children aged one to nine years old to offer them a top-up dose to ensure they have maximum protection from the virus.
"We are already reaching out to parents and carers of children who aren't up to date with their routine vaccinations, who can book a catch-up appointment with their GP surgery now and for anyone not sure of their child's vaccination status, they can check their Red Book."