A national incident has been declared after new evidence was found of community transmission of polio. Health authorities are urging people to ensure that their polio vaccines are up to date.
The virus that causes polio, which can cause paralysis in rare cases, was identified in sewage samples taken from London between February and May 2022, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA said: "Poliovirus has the potential to spread, particularly in communities where vaccine uptake is lower. On rare occasions it can cause paralysis in people who are not fully vaccinated so if you or your child are not up to date with your polio vaccinations it’s important you contact your GP to catch up or if unsure check your Red Book."
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"Most of the UK population will be protected from vaccination in childhood, but in some communities with low vaccine coverage, individuals may remain at risk," Dr Saliba added.
How do you get the vaccine
Normally, babies are given the vaccination against polio as part of their standard NHS jabs at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. The protection against the virus is included in the 6-in-1 injection, which also safeguards against diphtheria, hepatitis B, tetanus and whooping cough.
A booster is given to children aged 3 years and 4 months at pre-school. This injection, known as the 4-in-1 booster, offers protection against polio, whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.
According to the NHS website, the final booster is given to teenagers aged 14 during Year 9 at secondary school. The booster, a single injection given into the muscle of the upper arm, is the final stage in the NHS routine vaccination schedule.
Check to see if you've had the vaccine
If unsure if a child has been given the routine injection, parents have been advised to check their red book for records on vaccination. Shortly before babies are born, parents are given a personal child health record (PCHR), also known as the red book thanks to its brightly coloured cover.
At health checks, all necessary information about your baby - including weight, height and vaccinations - are logged in the red book. For older patients who may not have access to their red book, the best way to find out about your medical history is to call your GP surgery.
For some patients registered with an NHS account, your doctor's surgery may be able to upload your vaccination history online where it can be viewed on the website and on the app alongside other important health information such as allergies and medication notes.
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