Low polio vaccination rates among teenagers risks ‘virulent infection’ in UK

Official data showed that several London authorities had polio vaccine coverage of lower than 50%. Photograph: Peter Lopeman/Alamy

Low polio vaccination coverage among teenagers risks the re-emergence of virulent polio infection in the UK, experts have warned.

Fewer than half of 13 to 14-year-olds received their teenage booster against polio in some parts of England last year, data shows, after public health officials declared a national incident over evidence the virus is spreading in the community.