An additional push will be made to get children immunized against polio in London in an effort to stop the disease’s spread.
As part of a summertime catch-up program, vaccinations will be provided to every child between the ages of one and eleven.
The virus was discovered in sewage in north and east London during routine inspections, prompting health officials to issue a warning that there had been “some transmission” in the city the previous year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) declared that booster shots will be provided to primary school students because vaccination rates are still too low in several boroughs.
Polio, which was officially eradicated in the country in 2003, can cause paralysis in rare cases and be life-threatening.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA said: ‘While there are early signs of reduced spread of the poliovirus in London, we need to continue to improve uptake of childhood vaccines in all communities.
‘Until we reach every last child, we cannot be sure that we will not see a case of paralysis.
‘Even a single case of paralysis from polio would be a tragedy as it is completely preventable.
‘Only by improving vaccination coverage across all communities can we ensure resilience against future disease threats.’
Children will be vaccinated at primary school or community clinics, and there will be a focus on communities with the lowest levels of uptake, the UKHSA said.
Figures show 87.6% of children in London are receiving all their polio vaccinations by the time they turn one, compared to 92.1% in England as a whole.
Uptake for the pre-school booster for children aged five is even lower at 69.9% in the city compared to 83.4% in England.
The campaign comes after a total of 135 poliovirus type 2 isolates were identified in 30 sewage samples collected in London between February 8 and November 8 last year.