Reviewed by a GPhC Pharmacist at Halton Pharmacy

Many UK patients think polio is a thing of the past. Our childhood vaccination programme has worked well two of the three polio virus types are officially wiped out worldwide.

But one type isn’t. Wild poliovirus type 1 still circulates in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And vaccine-derived polio outbreaks have hit several countries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East in recent years.

If you had your childhood polio vaccines but never had a booster, travelling to these regions carries a real risk. This often surprises our patients at Halton Pharmacy in Leeds.

The Global Polio Picture Today

• Pakistan and Afghanistan  the only two countries where wild polio transmission has never fully stopped.
• Vaccine-derived polio cases have appeared in over 25 countries recently  across sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, Ukraine, and Southeast Asia.
• In 2022, poliovirus was even found in London sewage, along with a few cases in unvaccinated children leading to an NHS booster campaign in affected areas.

Countries are grouped into three risk categories by global health bodies:

• Countries with active polio spread
• Countries where transmission has been long-established
• At-risk countries

If you’re travelling to any of these especially for a long stay, or work involving close contact with local communities check your polio vaccination status before you go.

The Gap in Adult Immunity

UK childhood polio vaccination schedule:

• 3 doses as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine (8, 12, and 16 weeks old)
• 1 dose in the pre-school booster (age 3–5)
• 1 dose in the teenage booster (age 14)

That’s 5 doses in total a strong foundation. But immunity fades over time. It’s not guaranteed to last forever without a top-up.

Who should get a booster:

• Adults travelling to polio-affected countries, if it’s been more than 10 years since their last polio vaccine
• Anyone with incomplete vaccination records
• Anyone unsure if they finished their childhood vaccine schedule

Who Actually Needs a Booster for Travel?

 Official UK travel health guidance (NaTHNaC) recommends a booster if you’re travelling to a country with current or recent polio spread, and you haven’t had one in the last 10 years. This includes:

• Pakistan
• Afghanistan
• Parts of sub-Saharan Africa
• Other countries with known vaccine-derived polio

Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry or exit  especially for long-stay travellers. Always check the specific rules for your destination before you travel.

Entry Requirements: Proof of Vaccination

• Pakistan and Afghanistan require proof of polio vaccination when leaving the country, if you’ve stayed more than 4 weeks.
• Shorter stays don’t require paperwork but the health risk is still real, even without a document requirement.
• Rules can change. Always check current guidance from NaTHNaC and the FCDO before booking.
  
  

The Vaccine: Td/IPV

UK adults get a combined vaccine called Td/IPV. It protects against:

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria (reduced dose)
• Polio (all three virus types)
  
  

It’s given as a single injection into the muscle.

At Halton Pharmacy in Leeds, our travel health pharmacists can:

• Check your vaccination history
• Confirm if you need a booster
• Give you the Td/IPV vaccine during your travel health consultation
  
  

Many patients come in asking about yellow fever or malaria and don’t realise their polio status also needs checking.

This article is for general information only. It’s not personal medical advice. To talk about travel health at Halton Pharmacy, Selby Road, Leeds LS15 7JR, please book a travel health consultation.