Polio Vaccinations Encouraged Before Traveling Abroad This Summer

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued travel advisories for people visiting Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. These Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions notices say 'international destinations are considered high risk for polio.'

On July 6, 2022, the CDC stated: Before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series.

These destinations include but are not limited to Afghanistan, Israel, Pakistan, and about twenty-seven African countries.

Some countries have launched significant polio vaccination campaigns in response to these outbreaks.

For example, Israel's Ministry of Health initiated a polio vaccine program for millions of children in April 2022.

And in the United Kingdom, vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 from closely-linked individuals in North and East London were detected in sewage samples in June 2022.

Jane Clegg, the Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, commented, "The majority of Londoners are fully protected against polio and won't need to take any further action."

"But the NHS will begin reaching out to parents of children under five in London who are not up to date with their polio vaccinations to invite them to get protected."

Low levels of immunity and surveillance leave countries at risk of polio returning.

Recently, Dr. Marc Danzon and Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge published an editorial in EuroNews on July 14, 2022, saying, 'Vaccines remain our best defense against polio.'

'However, until all forms of poliovirus are gone, every unvaccinated child, every un- and under-vaccinated community is at risk.'

'This is not the time to be complacent.'

'Thanks to the strong collaboration, effective vaccines, and the European Immunization Agenda 2030 ... it is within our reach to sustain the Region's polio-free status for as long as it takes to achieve global eradication of the disease.'

'Member States must ensure that every child is vaccinated and thereby protected from this devastating disease (polio).'

Most people with polio do not feel sick, says the CDC.

Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, and pain in the arms and legs. In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function (paralysis).

Polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain.

In the USA, polio vaccination services are generally available at certified travel pharmacies and clinics.

Note: This information was manually curated for international travelers.