Earlier this week a polio vaccine booster campaign was announced for all children aged one to nine years in London. This is because of a poliovirus that was recently found in wastewater in London.
Currently Scotland will not be implementing a catch up booster programme as vaccine uptake is already high here, according to Public Health Scotland. The Scots health body is, however, urging people to ensure that their polio vaccines are up to date.
According to the public health officials, this particularly applies to parents of young children who may have missed an immunisation opportunity. They add that they are working with NHS boards on a precautionary basis to ensure optimal vaccine coverage for those still to get their polio jab.
Wastewater in Glasgow is also being regularly monitored by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, with no signs of the virus detected. The risk to Scotland is incredibly low according to Public Health Scotland's Clinical Director Dr Nick Phin.
Dr Phin said: “Regular wastewater monitoring on sewage samples from two sites in Glasgow has been carried out by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and there have been no recent detections of poliovirus. The risk to the public overall is extremely low.
"Scotland has high vaccination uptake rates that we need to maintain to reduce the risk of infections occurring."
How to check your child's vaccine status
Public Health Scotland say that you can check your child's vaccination status in your Red Book. A Red Book is also known as a Personal Child Health Record and is used for all children born on or after 1 January 2010.
If you are still unsure about your child's vaccine status you can contact your GP, who will also have their records. If your child is not not up-to-date, you should contact your local vaccination services which will depend on your local area's health board.
You can find a list of vaccination services on the NHS Inform website.
Dr Phin of Public Health Scotland says: "Parents of children born and raised in Scotland can check their child’s vaccination status in their Red Book or by calling their GP surgery. There is information on NHS inform about how to get your vaccines if you or your child are not up-to-date.
"We strongly encourage parents and carers to ensure that children receive all recommended vaccinations as soon as they are eligible, including the pre-school booster as we look to start a new school year.”
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