Polio vaccination Posted or Updated on 10 Apr 2024

The NHS is inviting children aged 1 to 9 in London boroughs to receive a dose of a vaccine against polio. For some children this will be an additional booster dose if they are already up to date with their routine vaccinations, in others who are not up to date it will be a catch-up dose.

Polio is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system – it can cause permanent paralysis of muscles. It is rare but can be very serious for unvaccinated people.

Traces of poliovirus have been found in sewage in some London boroughs, and the best way to protect your child is to make sure they are fully up to date with vaccinations. Both the booster dose and routine vaccination will increase your child’s protection.

If your child is 1 to 4, please call Plas Meddyg to book an appointment. You can have any older siblings (up to the age of 10) vaccinated at the same time.

If your child is 5 to 9, you can find out where to get a polio vaccination at:

www.selondonics.org/icb/your-health/polio-vaccination

The Vaccine has been safely used in millions of children and will give them a high level of protection from poliovirus.

You can find more information about polio and the vaccination programme at www.gov.uk/government/publications/polio-booster-campaign-resources

or from this video: bit.ly/PolioFAQ