South West Londoners are being reminded to ensure their children have a dose of the polio vaccine when invited by the NHS.
Dr John Byrne, South West London’s Medical Director, issued the prompt for parents to take up the offer of the free vaccination to ensure maximum protection after the virus was found in samples from the city’s sewage and signs emerged that there may be some community spread.
With children aged one to nine across London being offered the polio vaccine, Dr Byrne said that due to the success of the jabs programme there have been no cases of natural polio infection in the UK for decades – the last case was in 1984.
Dr Byrne said: “While many children have already visited a vaccination centre, all children aged one to nine in South West London should get the polio vaccine – for some this may be a booster on top of their routine jabs and for others it may ensure they catch up with their routine vaccinations.
“The vaccine is free, safe and effective. It provides a high level of protection from a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis of muscles while boosting immunity in children should also reduce the risk of the virus continuing to spread.
“The NHS will get in touch with you when it is your turn. When you’re contacted, please don’t delay – ensure your children get this protection against polio at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Parents of eligible children across London are contacted by the NHS, but people can also visit nhs.uk to find local polio vaccination services which enable you to book or walk-in to get a vaccination for a child.
Nine-year-old Roni was accompanied by his mother Mary Pekacar for his vaccination. She said: “The staff were really lovely. They put Roni at ease and were kind to him.”
Liude Torlopova, originally from Ukraine, took her son Lev, nine, to get his vaccination and she said: “I hope more parents come forward.”
Dr Byrne’s reminder comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that a targeted inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) booster dose should be offered to all children between the ages of one and nine in all London boroughs following the discovery of type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus in sewage in north and east London.
Parents and guardians can check their child’s health record (red book) or speak to their GP if they are unsure if their child has received a polio vaccine before.
Parents should book a local appointment as soon as they can.
Read frequently asked questions and answers about polio
Read the UK Health Security Agency’s announcement about the polio vaccination