London Offers Polio Boosters for Under-Vaccinated Children

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today announced it is urging parents and guardians to ensure their children are up to date with all their routine childhood immunizations.

This news shows that most childhood vaccination coverage for young children fell in 2021.

The latest vaccination statistics from UKHSA and NHS Digital for children up to five years of age decreased for 13 of the 14 routine vaccination programs measured from 2021 to 2022.

Low polio vaccination rates in parts of London have left communities vulnerable to the spread of poliovirus, which has been detected in parts of North and East London through sewage surveillance.

As of September 29, 2022, no clinical polio cases have been identified in London.

A polio catch-up vaccination campaign is underway in London for under-vaccinated 1- to 9-year-olds and as a booster dose for certain people.

Dr. Vanessa Saliba, Consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said in a related media release, "I would urge parents to check that all children are up to date with their vaccines, and if not, to get them booked in as soon as possible to make sure they have maximum protection against what can be terrible diseases."

"Childhood vaccines also boost population immunity levels, helping prevent outbreaks, so by taking up all vaccinations for our children, we play our part in keeping these diseases confined to the past."

Recently, the WHO reaffirmed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

On September 13, 2022, the USA was added to the list of countries where circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus had been confirmed. 

Furthermore, poliovirus detection in wastewater systems throughout the greater New York City area has been related to London's detections.

In the USA, polio vaccines are generally available at most clinics and pharmacies.

Other polio outbreak news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/Polio.