Health experts are urging parents across the country to get their children vaccinated after the poliovirus was identified in sewage samples collected from the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in London.
Vaccination rates for children vary dramatically across England.
Analysis of the latest childhood vaccination coverage statistics published by the NHS shows England’s vaccination rate against polio sits at 92% – three percentage points lower than the World Health Organisations target of 95%.
Vaccination rates in London remain the lowest in the UK with 86.7% of children being vaccinated against polio before their first birthday during the 2020-21 period. The North West has the second lowest vaccination rates with 91.7% protected. The North East is the only English region to be above the WHO target, having vaccinated 95.5% of children.
The data also shows 112 councils across England have vaccination rates below the 95% benchmark. Here we reveal the 15 councils that have the lowest polio vaccination rates in England.
1. Hackney and City of London
In Hackney and City of London 67.8% of children were vaccinated against polio before their 1st birthday.
2. Camden
In Camden 79.2% of children were vaccinated against polio before their 1st birthday.
3. Haringey
In Haringey 81.6 % of children were vaccinated against polio before their 1st birthday.
4. Kensington and Chelsea
In Kensington and Chelsea 81.9% of children were vaccinated against polio before their 1st birthday.