Children in London aged 5 to 9 years old can now get their polio vaccine booster dose at more than 40 sites across the capital, after the NHS stood up new sites to accelerate the rollout.
Parents can find their nearest vaccination site and opening times through the NHS website: nhs.uk/polio-sites.
Community pharmacies are among the additional sites now administering the polio vaccine, giving families in London more convenient options to get their children vaccinated.
Parents can choose to book appointments in advance at some sites or simply walk into others without an appointment.
GP practices have been offering booster and catch-up doses of the polio vaccine to children aged 1 to 9 years.
Parents of eligible children aged 1 to 4 should continue to get their booster or catch-up dose via their GP practice.
Jane Clegg, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, said: “We’re committed to doing all we can to protect children and those living in London from the threat of polio which is why we’ve expanded the sites where children can receive their polio vaccination.
“The NHS has now contacted all parents in London with children aged 1 to 9 years old to come forward for a booster or catch-up dose of the polio vaccine, and we encourage them to take up the offer as soon as possible.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “Mass polio vaccination centres will play a critical role in ensuring the booster doses can be rapidly and conveniently distributed. I urge all parents of children aged one to nine to ensure they take up the opportunity to boost or vaccinate their child as soon as possible.”
The NHS is offering all children in London aged 1 to 9 years old an inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) booster dose in line with last month’s recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The programme started in eight boroughs in north and east London where poliovirus has been detected in sewage water, but has been rapidly expanded across all boroughs.
Dr Seilesh Kadambari, Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “As a paediatrician, I regularly see and treat children who are poorly from a range of nasty illnesses, some of which can’t be prevented. However, polio is a vaccine-preventable disease from which you can protect your child.”
“The NHS is now inviting parents of children 1 to 9 year olds in London to book their children in for a poliovirus booster or catch-up dose to ensure high levels of immunity.
“I’d urge parents to do this as soon as possible. Don’t let polio into your child’s life.”
Four-year-old Pearl Bailey is among the first set of children in Bromley to have received a booster dose of the polio vaccine after getting the jab on 19 August 2022 at the Orpington Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Pearl’s parents – who live in Chislehurst in the southeast London borough – said they were called by Bromley GP Alliance the previous day and offered a vaccination appointment.
They immediately confirmed their appointment and were first in the queue the following day.
