Chloe Ramirez
Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a serious and potentially paralysing infection caused by the poliovirus, which affects the brain and nerves. While polio is now rare in the UK, the disease is still found in some countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. As a result, there is a small risk of contracting polio when travelling to these countries or through contact with a person returning to the UK from an affected country. The best way to prevent polio is to ensure that you and your children are up to date with vaccinations. The polio vaccine is part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule and is offered for free in England. In 2022, the UK took proactive measures to boost children's protection against polio in London, where the virus was detected in sewage samples. This supplementary immunisation campaign aimed to ensure that all eligible individuals in the area were fully vaccinated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries where polio is still found | Afghanistan, Pakistan |
| Risk of getting polio in the UK | Extremely low |
| Risk of getting polio if unvaccinated | Higher |
| Risk of getting polio if vaccinated | Very small |
| Risk groups in the UK | Travellers to countries where polio is found, those in direct contact with infected persons, long-stay travellers, those visiting areas of poor sanitation |
| Symptoms | Mild illness with fever, meningitis, paralysis |
| Incidence of symptoms | 95% of infected individuals do not develop symptoms |
| Incidence of paralysis | Less than 1% of infections |
| Long-term protection in the UK | Five doses of polio-containing vaccine at appropriate intervals |
| Protection for travellers to countries where polio is found | Booster dose if the last dose of the polio vaccine was 10 or more years ago |
| Polio vaccination in the UK | Offered to children as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccinations; offered for free by the NHS |
| Polio vaccination schedule in the UK | Babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age; 3 years and 4 months of age; 14 years of age |
| Polio vaccination history in the UK | OPV used before 2004; IPV used since 2004 |
| Polio cases in the UK | No confirmed cases of paralysis due to polio since 1984; the last imported case was in 1993 |
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What You'll Learn
The UK switched from OPV to IPV in 2004
The UK switched from using OPV (oral polio vaccine) to IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) in 2004. This switch occurred the year after poliovirus was declared eradicated in the WHO European region. The inactivated polio vaccine contains a killed virus and provides excellent protection against severe polio. However, individuals can still become infected and spread the poliovirus without exhibiting any symptoms.
The decision to switch to IPV was made to reduce the risk of seeding new types of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses. While OPV provides good protection against polio and high levels of gut immunity, it contains a live, attenuated (weakened) virus. This means that for several weeks after vaccination, people can shed the vaccine virus in their faeces, potentially spreading it to others.
The UK's routine immunisation schedule now includes IPV for all individuals from two months of age. Babies routinely receive the hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB vaccine at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, with further doses at 3 years and 4 months and around 14 years old as part of booster shots. This vaccine is offered for free by the NHS.
It is important to note that the risk of getting polio in the UK is extremely low, and there have been no confirmed cases of paralysis due to polio caught in the UK since 1984. However, poliovirus has been detected in sewage in London, and the chance of getting ill from polio is higher for those who are not fully vaccinated. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that both children and adults are up to date with their polio vaccinations, especially when travelling to areas where polio is still prevalent, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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The polio vaccine is part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule
The UK has had a polio vaccination programme since 1956. The country switched from using the oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV) to the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in 2004, the year after poliovirus was declared eradicated in the WHO European region. IPV contains a killed virus and provides excellent protection against severe polio. However, individuals can still become infected and spread the virus without exhibiting any symptoms.
The NHS will contact parents to book an appointment for their child's polio vaccine. The vaccine is free and offered to all babies and children by the NHS. The chance of getting ill from polio is higher if you are not fully vaccinated, so it is important to make sure you and your child are up to date with your vaccines.
If you have moved to the UK, it is good to check with your GP to make sure you and your children have had all the necessary vaccines. If you have missed any, you may still need protection, even at an older age. Ask your GP or nurse to check if you need a catch-up dose.
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The chance of getting polio in the UK is extremely low
Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a serious infection caused by the poliovirus, which can affect the brain and nerves. It can cause permanent paralysis of muscles, making the affected person unable to move parts or all of their body. It is rare but can be very serious for unvaccinated people. The UK switched from using OPV (oral polio vaccine) to IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) in 2004, the year after poliovirus was declared eradicated in the WHO European region. IPV provides excellent protection from severe polio, but individuals can still become infected and spread the virus without exhibiting any symptoms.
The best way to prevent polio is to ensure that you and your child are up to date with vaccinations. The polio vaccine is offered to children as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccinations and is given for free by the NHS. Babies routinely receive the hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB vaccine at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Further doses of polio-containing vaccines are given at 3 years and 4 months as part of the pre-school booster and around 14 years old as part of the teenage booster. Children in London who are not up to date with their routine vaccinations are being offered polio and MMR vaccinations through GP surgeries, primary schools, and community clinics.
If you have moved to the UK, it is good to check with your GP to ensure that you and your children have received all the necessary vaccines. You can register with a GP practice and see a doctor or nurse for free, regardless of your identity, address, or immigration status.
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The polio vaccine provides protection against polio, tetanus and diphtheria
In the UK, the polio vaccine is combined with tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines. Known as IPV (inactivated polio vaccine), it is administered via injection and protects against severe disease caused by poliovirus in almost everyone who has received all the recommended doses.
The UK switched from using OPV (oral polio vaccine) to IPV in 2004, the year after poliovirus was declared eradicated in the WHO European region. OPV is still used in other countries due to its low cost and ease of administration, but it carries a small risk of vaccine-derived polio. IPV, on the other hand, has an excellent safety profile and provides excellent protection against severe polio.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) reiterated in July 2022 that the priority is to ensure all eligible individuals are up to date with their polio vaccinations. Babies in the UK routinely receive the hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB vaccine at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, with further doses at 3 years and 4 months, and around 14 years old as part of the teenage booster.
The polio vaccine has been part of routine childhood immunization for decades, drastically reducing the incidence of polio and bringing the disease to the brink of eradication. It is recommended that children receive 4 doses of IPV to protect them against severe polio, including paralysis. Most adults in the UK were likely vaccinated as children and are therefore protected from polio. However, anyone who is unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated should receive the polio vaccination, especially if they are travelling to a country with a documented increased risk of exposure to poliovirus.
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The polio vaccine is available for free in England
Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a serious infection caused by the poliovirus, which can lead to permanent paralysis of muscles. It is a potentially paralysing, vaccine-preventable, viral infection. The virus is transmitted through food or water contaminated by infected human faeces or by direct contact with an infected person. Polio is now very rare in the UK due to the vaccination programme, and the last imported case of polio in a UK traveller was in 1993. However, poliovirus was detected in sewage in London in 2022, and there is a small chance that those who are unvaccinated or unable to respond well to vaccines could be at risk of catching polio.
The polio vaccine is offered to children as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccinations and is available for free in England. These vaccinations are offered to all babies and children for free by the NHS. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has emphasised the importance of ensuring that all eligible individuals are up to date with their polio vaccinations. In addition, the JCVI recommended a supplemental IPV booster campaign for children aged 1 to 9 years old in London to boost protection and reduce the risk of virus spread.
In the UK, babies routinely receive the hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB vaccine at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Additional doses of polio-containing vaccines are given at 3 years and 4 months as part of the pre-school booster and around 14 years old as part of the teenage booster. The UK switched from using OPV to IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) in 2004, which provides excellent protection against severe polio. However, individuals vaccinated with IPV can still become infected and spread the virus without exhibiting symptoms.
If you are unsure about your polio vaccination status, you can contact your GP surgery to check and book an appointment if necessary. The polio vaccine is available at any point if you have never received one before, and it is recommended even if you are not travelling to a country with a risk of polio. It is important to stay up to date with polio vaccinations to protect yourself and others from this potentially serious disease.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the polio vaccine is offered to children as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccinations. These vaccines are free and offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Further doses are given at the age of 3 years and 4 months as part of the pre-school booster and at around 14 years old as part of the teenage booster.
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a potentially paralysing, vaccine-preventable, viral infection. While polio is now rare in the UK, it has not been eradicated globally, with a number of countries still reporting cases. The chance of getting ill from polio is higher if you are not fully vaccinated.
Most people who get polio do not have symptoms. However, in rare cases, polio can lead to serious symptoms such as weakness in muscles (paralysis), usually in the legs. This can happen over hours or days and can be life-threatening if the paralysis affects the muscles used for breathing.
