Poliomyelitis is caused by a bacterial infection. It usually affects young children, but most children who get it will have only mild symptoms. Unfortunately, in some cases, children become very ill and may be partially paralysed or even die. Luckily, in 1953-1955 scientists created a vaccine for polio, which means that in the UK, many people are protected from this illness. However, vaccination rates are dropping, and there is a danger that if people don’t continue vaccinating, more children will get sick and some could develop paralysis. And while polio affects children more frequently than adults, when an adult gets sick with this disease they are much more likely to develop muscle paralysis. 

Later in life (30-40 years after recovering from the initial infection), polio survivors may develop post-polio syndrome because of the extra stress placed on surviving nerve cells after initial polio infection. Post-polio syndrome causes additional weakness, fatigue, and joint pain and can be managed through physiotherapy, assistive devices like braces and walking sticks, as well as pain and respiratory care. 

Polio can be prevented by ensuring that children are vaccinated. The polio vaccination is part of the NHS routine vaccination schedule and is given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks and 18 months old. Booster vaccines are also given at 3 and 14 years of age. The vaccine can be accessed through your NHS GP surgery. 

​​​​​​