What is it and how do we get it:
You can become infected with the polio virus if you come into contact with the poo (faeces) of someone with the infection, or with the droplets launched into the air when they cough or sneeze. You can also get the infection from food or water that has been contaminated with infected poo or droplets. The incubation period for polio is commonly 6–20 day.
Symptoms of Polio:
Surprisingly, 95% of all individuals infected with polio have no apparent symptoms. A small number of people will experience a flu-like illness. In less than 1% of cases, the polio virus attacks the nerves in the spine and base of the brain. This can cause paralysis, usually in the legs.
The paralysis isn't usually permanent, and movement will often slowly return. However, some people are left with persistent problems. About 1 in every 200 people with the infection will have some degree of permanent paralysis, such as: muscle weakness, shrinking of the muscles (atrophy), tight joints (contractures), deformities, such as twisted feet or legs.
Childhood/ Routine Immunization program in the United Kingdom:
It is given in Five doses – the first when the child is 8 weeks (part of 6 in 1 injection), 12 weeks (part of 6 in 1 injection), 16 weeks (part of 6 in 1 injection), 3-8 years (part of 4 in 1 injection) and at 14 years (part of 3 in 1 injection). Polio vaccine is usually given in combination of other vaccines such as Diphtheria (bacteria) and Tetanus (Bacteria).
Travellers going to destinations with Polio outbreaks:
| Travellers who had 5 full doses before and you received the last dose less than 10 years ago | You are good to go |
| Travellers who had 5 full doses before and you received the last dose more than 10 years ago | You are good to go but depending on destination you might want to have a booster |
| Travellers who had less than 5 doses before | Should have an extra dose before departure |
| Travellers not sure if they had any doses before | They should be given 1 dose before departure |
Inclusion and Exclusion list:
For patients above age of 6. There are inclusion and exclusion list that will be discussed with you during your appointment. You will be asked to fill in an assessment form with all your vaccination history details as well as any medical condition. Also we will go through any allergic reactions you might have. You can download the form here or you can fill it in during your appointment.
Name of the Vaccines subject to availabilities:
| Name of the Vaccine | Type of Vaccine | Schedule (see notes above) | Price per schedule including consultation |
| Revaxis | Mixture of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) | 1 dose | £32 |
Side effects:
The most common side effects are local reactions (pain, erythema, induration and oedema) within 48 hours after vaccination, and persisting for 1-2 days. Very common (more than 1 in 10 persons) As above also pain, redness, hardening of the skin, swelling of the nodule, Dizziness (vertigo), feeling sick and being sick, headache.
Please visit http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx, after putting your destinations, this website will advise you which vaccines are needed. This website is regularly updated and is
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