London parents - will you be giving your kids under 10 the polio booster?

[Digimoor]

I just got a text with details of the polio booster they are offering
Dependent on age it will be a 6 in 1 or 3 in 1/ 4 in 1 jab with the other childhood vaccines included (eg Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough etc)

IABU to think my kid is fully vaccinated so why bother?

YABU = I will give my kids the booster
YANBU = I won't

Do you know how horrible the disease is?

I was a child when the vaccine was introduced (too late for a schoolfriend who had to wear a calliper)

Mothers were so grateful for it because the thought of their child in an iron lung terrified everyone

Take what's offered

My children are adults, but if they were still young I'd definitely follow the professional advice and get them vaccinated. We are incredibly lucky to live in an age where so many awful diseases can be prevented by vaccination.

Two of the people in this article are still alive. 60+ years spent mostly shut in an iron lung thanks to Polio. Why would anyone not want to do anything they could to protect their child against such a limiting life?

gizmodo.com/the-last-of-the-iron-lungs-1819079169

Well yeah, cos I don’t want them to get polio.

Safe vaccine that’s been used a zillion times vs hideous life-changing disease 🤔 I’m not seeing your dilemma tbh.

Polio is hideous. DD will be having the vaccine as soon as she's offered it.

Vaccines are wonderful things.

I genuinely wouldn’t think twice. I’m not that far from London and if it became a wider issue I’d take it.

presuming your dc have had all their previous vaccines it’s literally just a top up of something they’ve already had. I’d consider a top up of other vaccines a bonus, particularly tetanus.

My dad had polio and was in an iron lung for a year as a child. If anyone offered me the chance to keep myself or my child safe from that, I would move heaven and earth to do it.

Polio is a nasty disease for young children. I’ve come across many older people with polio in my line of work. They have varying levels of disability and often die younger than they should. It’s preventable, of course I’d vaccinate if offered!

Yes, because I wouldn't want my children to have to live like this for a few months, or a few years, or, as some have, their whole lives.

Surely this call is for those with unvaccinated children? If your kids are already vaccinated, isn't that enough?

If they are recommending a further dose then your child isn’t fully vaccinated until they’ve had it! Yes I’d take it, polio is an awful disease

Mine are just over the age limit but absolutely they would be having it if they could.

I know two people with disabilities from polio as kids.

My kids are fully vaccinated though, and there's not been any info about why a top up would be helpful. It's an honest question.

Absolutely yes. May even look into private top up options for the one who is a little too old.

Polio is horrific and even if you recover it can start causing problems again in old age. My mum’s cousin, who had it as a child, was in agony in her later years. My grandparents generation lived in terror that their children would catch it. They’d be astonished that anyone would even contemplate not getting the vaccine .

So is there a material risk of polio to children already vaccinated? I’m not clear on this point really.

The existing vaccination schedule WAS adequate, to prevent polio getting established and spreading.

The situation has become a bit riskier, there's a new strain actively circulating in London, so a booster will top up protection and again prevent the spread and serious illness.

Polio is awful. Absolutely take it up.

I’m old enough to remember people who had been damaged by polio. I’d suggest you do get your children vaccinated.

Polio is not a new virus, we know the impact of it and how it can act. It's been found in London. Why wouldn't you give them the booster??

Of course I will. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t? Vaccines aren’t infallible and just because you are up to date doesn’t mean you have the best coverage.

They need to make sure there is herd immunity in London to stop it spreading and also to ensure that hopefully no children are disabled as a result of such a terrible disease. Do you live in one of the affected areas? I’m in a borough surrounded by effected boroughs and have been wondering when we will hear

I will get it for my youngest. I’ll ask the chemist if I can pay for it for my oldest (as he is over 10).

I’ve recently had the booster (mainly because I wanted to get the tetanus booster so got the tetanus, diphtheria and polio in one).

Absolutely we will.

Im in London but my dts are are not within the age. I would have gone for it. I’ve listened to the experts for all the other vaccinations so would go ahead and have it if they were offered it.

You don’t fuck about with polio.

Id take whatever prevention was offered, as even a tiny chance my child would end up paralysed or dead is too much.