What age do babies get polio vaccine? Vaccination schedule for children explained - and how long it lasts
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The virus that causes polio has been found in sewage in the London areas of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest.
The virus has also been found in lower concentrations in areas adjacent to the Beckton catchment area to the south - which is immediately below the Thames - and to the east of Beckton.
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Hide AdThis comes after the virus was previously detected in sewage samples in London in June, when the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared it a national incident.
Samples taken between February and May from the London Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, which serves around four million people in north and east London, suggested that the virus had spread between a small number of people.
Children aged one to nine in London are now to be offered a polio booster vaccination after further samples were found in sewage.
The UKHSA has also urged people to check their polio vaccines are up to date in response to this.
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Hide AdBut how do you check if your child has been vaccinated and what age do they receive the polio jab?
Here’s what you need to know.
What is polio?
Polio is a serious infection that’s now very rare as it can be prevented with vaccination.
It was officially eradicated in the UK in 2003, but the virus has recently been found in sewage samples.
Polio is caused by a virus that spreads easily when an infected person coughs or sneezes and it can also be caught from food or water that’s been in contact with the poo of someone who has the virus.
What age should my child receive the polio vaccine?
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Hide AdThe best way to prevent polio is to make sure you and your child are up to date with your vaccinations, the NHS said.
The polio vaccine is part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule and is given when your child is:
- 8, 12 and 16 weeks old as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine
- 3 years and 4 months old as part of the 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV) pre-school booster
- 14 years old as part of the 3-in-1 (Td/IPV) teenage booster
You need to have all of these vaccinations to be fully vaccinated against polio.
However, you can have a polio vaccination at any point if you’ve never had one before, even if you’re not travelling to a country with a risk of getting polio.
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Hide AdYou should also get vaccinated even if you’ve had polio before as it protects against different types of polio.
How long does the polio vaccine last for?
Children in the UK usually receive the five necessary doses of the polio vaccine as part of the routine vaccination schedule for long-term protection, according to the Fit For Travel NHS website.
You can receive booster doses of polio-containing vaccines if you have not had all 5 doses.
How can I check my child’s polio vaccination status?
To check whether your child is due a vaccine, you will need to request their health records from the GP practice they are registered with.
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Hide AdAccording to the NHS, any person with parental responsibility can request the records of a child who is aged 12 or younger, but children aged 13 and older are usually considered to have the capacity to give or refuse consent to parents accessing health records unless there is a reason to suggest otherwise.
However, British Medical Association guidance says that every reasonable effort must be made to encourage the child to involve parents or guardians.
Children aged 13 or over can access their immunisation history digitally by logging into their online account using the NHS app or website.
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