PARENTS are being urged to make sure their children are vaccinated against polio — something Isle of Wight parents have, in the main, adhered to.

Published rates show most Isle of Wight children are already fully vaccinated.

The virus that causes polio has been detected in a number of sewage samples in London, health officials have said.

The disease was common in the UK in the 1950s but was eliminated by 2003.

The UK Health Security Agency says it was probably imported to London by someone who was recently vaccinated overseas with a live form of the virus.

It says the risk is low, but parents should ensure their children have been fully immunised against the disease.

Published vaccination rates for the Isle of Wight for children aged 12 months are above 95 per cent, for the combined 6:1 injectable vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), hepatitis B and polio.

This is above the England average and meets the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended target of 95 per cent.

For children aged five years old, the rate is above 90 per cent, which again is above the England average. This is for the 4:1 booster combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.

While the risk of transmission in well vaccinated communities is low, parents can check their child’s vaccination status in their Red Book and should contact their GP surgery to book a vaccination, should they or their child not be fully up to date.

The last major outbreak of polio on the Island was in the 1950s.

Read more: When polio hit the Isle of Wight in the 1950s