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Every child aged one to nine in London will be offered a polio vaccine after the virus was repeatedly detected in sewage during routine inspections.
Health officials warned there has been ‘some transmission’ of the virus in the capital.
The disease can cause paralysis and in rare cases be life-threatening, but was officially eradicated in the UK in 2003.
Now health workers are getting set to launch a rapid vaccination programme among youngsters in the city, amid concerns about low levels of uptake of the vaccine.
It means almost a million youngsters will be offered the treatment. Those who are not yet fully vaccinated will be offered a catch-up dose, while those who have already been fully inoculated will be offered a booster.
Vaccination rates in London are well below recommended levels and there is a risk that ‘under-vaccinated’ children can pass the infection to others.
Youngsters will be offered a jab within the next four weeks, with officials hoping to vaccinate all those invited within six weeks. Parents will be contacted when it is their child’s turn to have a dose.
Health officials warned there has been ‘some transmission’ of the virus in the capital.
The disease can cause paralysis and in rare cases be life-threatening, but was officially eradicated in the UK in 2003.
Now health workers are getting set to launch a rapid vaccination programme among youngsters in the city, amid concerns about low levels of uptake of the vaccine.
It means almost a million youngsters will be offered the treatment. Those who are not yet fully vaccinated will be offered a catch-up dose, while those who have already been fully inoculated will be offered a booster.
Vaccination rates in London are well below recommended levels and there is a risk that ‘under-vaccinated’ children can pass the infection to others.
Youngsters will be offered a jab within the next four weeks, with officials hoping to vaccinate all those invited within six weeks. Parents will be contacted when it is their child’s turn to have a dose.
All children under 10 in London to be offered polio vaccine after virus detected
Health officials warned there has been 'some transmission' of the virus in the capital.
metro.co.uk