Polio is spreading (text version)
Updated 30 September 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/polio-booster-campaign-resources/polio-is-spreading-text-version
Polio is spreading in London, US and Israel
Polio is a disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus can infect the spinal cord and cause permanent paralysis or even death. Polio is preventable only by immunisation.
There is no cure for polio.
Approximately 75% of people who are infected with polio will not experience any symptoms and will not know they are contagious.
For every case of paralysis, between 100 and 1,000 people have been infected.
There are now thousands of children under 10 who are at risk in the UK because they are not up to date with their routine vaccines.
Polio circulating in sewage in London
This is happening because not enough people are being vaccinated. That is why we are offering a booster dose of polio vaccine to all children aged 1 to 9 in London.
For more information about the vaccines you can read the leaflet in English, Yiddish and other languages.
Who is at risk
Individuals at risk:
- newborn babies
- children under 2 years who have not completed their polio immunisation schedule
- anyone not fully immunised including children, adults and pregnant women
- immunocompromised individuals – speak to your doctor if the polio booster is right for you
The only protection for you or your child is immunisation. Check your child’s red book or contact your GP practice to make sure your child is up to date.
How polio is spread
Polio spreads through:
- contact with the fecal matter (poo) of an infected person
- droplets in a sneeze or cough from someone with infection
Symptoms of polio
Approximately 25% will experience flu-like symptoms such as:
- fever
- fatigue
- stomach pain
- sickness
- sore throat
- headache
More serious symptoms can take up to 30 days to appear and include:
- severe headache
- severe muscle pains
- stiffness in the neck and back
- dislike of bright lights
- paralysis or even death
Polio vaccination
The polio immunisation is proven highly effective.
Timeline of polio vaccination:
- 1950s - there are around 4,000 polio cases each year in the UK
- 1955 - the polio immunisation developed by Dr Jonas Salk is licensed
- 1956 - polio vaccine is introduced in the UK
- 1970s - the last outbreak of polio in the UK
- 1984 - last natural case of polio in the UK
- 2003 - Europe declared polio free
- 2022 - children in London offered a polio booster – this follows a highly successful polio booster campaign in Israel; all families are asked to check if everyone is up to date with their routine vaccinations now
Numbers of under-vaccinated children by London borough
Please use your borough’s data to add to the Polio is spreading leaflet (London) and add your borough’s name and then print and use locally to promote to parents and carers.
| Local authority | Total under 10 years of age |
|---|---|
| London | 224,000 |
| Barking and Dagenham | 7,000 |
| Barnet | 9,000 |
| Bexley | 4,000 |
| Brent | 7,000 |
| Bromley | 5,000 |
| Camden | 6,000 |
| Croydon | 11,000 |
| Ealing | 8,000 |
| Enfield | 8,000 |
| Greenwich | 6,000 |
| Hackney | 12,000 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 4,000 |
| Haringey | 8,000 |
| Harrow | 5,000 |
| Havering | 4,000 |
| Hillingdon | 6,000 |
| Hounslow | 7,000 |
| Islington | 4,000 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 5,000 |
| Kingston upon Thames | 3,000 |
| Lambeth | 7,000 |
| Lewisham | 6,000 |
| Merton | 5,000 |
| Newham | 12,000 |
| Redbridge | 8,000 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 6,000 |
| Southwark | 5,000 |
| Sutton | 3,000 |
| Tower Hamlets | 6,000 |
| Waltham Forest | 8,000 |
| Wandsworth | 9,000 |
| Westminster | 5,000 |
Notes: The ‘Not fully vaccinated’ numbers are calculated by subtracting the number of vaccinated children (according to the requirements of their age cohort) from the total number of children in their age cohort. All the data is taken from published annual reports, except age one, which is the sum of 4 quarters from the 2021 to 2022 quarterly reports (2021 to 2022 annual data has not yet been published). From age 6 and above, the data is taken from the 5 year age cohort. These show more children as ‘Not fully vaccinated’, because they are eligible for the pre-school booster (DTaP/IPV) and vaccine coverage for this fourth dose is always lower than for the 3 doses of the primary course (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB).