Polio booster - is it necessary?

[duvets3]

My DS is 2.5 years old. He is up to date with all his routine vaccines, but we’ve now been offered a polio booster in addition to everything else. It’s because we live in London apparently and polio is on the rise here - or at least it was. I haven’t seen anything in the news about it for a while.

Is it really necessary for him to have this extra jab on top of everything else?

Yes, prevention is better than cure, and it will do no harm.

Polio is a really nasty disease. Take the booster if you've been offered it.

Why would you risk polio?

Polio is a dreadful disease, I’d be biting their hands off to get it ASAP

Why would you risk polio?

He’s been vaccinated against polio already - this is an extra booster on top of everything else.

Why do you think a severely cash strapped NHS would be spending money on a vaccine that is not necessary?

Because they make the money back tenfold on each vaccine

Traces of live polio virus have been found in sewage in London. They test sewage for viruses regularly and there is enough of a risk of polio to offer the vaccine and vaccine boosters. It has been in the news

@pinheadlarry how?

This explains it:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/polio/vaccination-sites/

More detail if you want it:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/polio-booster-campaign-resources/have-your-polio-vaccine-now-information-for-parents

Basically, they know from testing sewage that there’s polio around. So the risk is higher, and children are most at risk. So they want to boost children‘s immunity to polio to try and avoid an outbreak.

And the real detail is here - probably more technical than most people want, but I found it interesting to see the logic and how changes in the type of vaccine used make a difference:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccination-strategy-for-ongoing-polio-incident-jcvi-statement/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-statement-on-vaccination-strategy-for-the-ongoing-polio-incident

There are signs the virus is spreading in London and the number of children vaccinated in London is lower than it should be.

The NHS link says this - but DS has already had 3 polio vaccines (through the 6 in 1 jabs at 8, 12 and 16 weeks). He will have another dose when he gets the preschool 4 in 1.

So does he really need another jab on top of all that?

I was recently cornered in A&E asking me why i havent given the polio booster and giving me a lecture about why
Its important
They were treating me like an antivaxxer depsite dd being up to date

The reason why polio was found
In the sewer was BECAUSE of the polio vaccine
Some developing countries still use OPV which shows up in faeces
UK switched to IPV in 2004

The polio vaccine your child got in the 6 in1 should be sufficient enough,
otherwise that would be admitting that the vaccine doesnt actually work ..

Maybe the NHS is just giving the polio booster in London because they haven't got enough to do?

Either get the booster or don't but stop spreading vaccine scepticism. This booster is advised by the top medical experts in the country. If you think MN knows better you are a wally.

Because the vaccine they’ve had should give protection, but it’s not 100%.

With something as nasty as polio you don’t want to mess around.

You still haven’t answered what you think the downside is?

I’m not a sceptic at all - as I said, DS is fully up to date with all his routine vaccines.

You still haven’t answered what you think the downside is?

I’d say the downside is potential side effects if there are any and also just the trauma of him having yet another needle on top of the ones he’s already had!

If you think a quick jab is ‘traumatic’ you should see polio.

Anyway, at the end of the day we will be having it because we’ve been told it’s necessary - even though he’s had three polio jabs already through the 6 in 1!

Does anyone know if the polio booster has side effects? I seem to remember that some of the routine vaccines can do.

DD had it a week ago and had no side effects other than a slightly sore arm.

I really don't think the NHS would be offering it if the evidence didn't support it.

@whatever the risk of side effects the risks of polio are greater. Good to hear that your child will get the booster. It is important not only for your own child but also to avoid any potential spread.

My SIL had polio as a child and lost an eye to it. It really is nasty.

Sorry that was @duvets3 not @whatever

Damned right I’d take it. It’s not traumatic, it’s a quick jab in the arm.

Polio is a terrible disease, why risk it?

As you have pre schooler you probably aren’t old enough to remember people who were left disabled by polio. My music teacher had polio as a child in the 1940’s and was severely disabled with one leg much shorter than the other and a deformed back. He died quite young.

My two boys had the jab two weeks ago (aged 6 and 9). One was fine with no side effects. The other had a slightly raised temp that evening and was a bit tired the next day but then was fine. Glad to get the booster.