London children to get polio boosters as more virus traces found
August 10, 2022, 3:34 pm

London children to get polio boosters as more virus traces found

The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 72-storey skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, in Southwark, London, that forms part of the Shard Quarter development - Pixabay

All children aged 1-9 in London will be offered a booster dose of the polio vaccine after more virus traces were detected in the capital’s sewers, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The virus, which can cause paralysis, has been found 116 times in London's wastewater since February.

There have, however, been no confirmed infections.

The UK’s last case of polio, which can cause paralysis, was in 1984, while Europe was declared free of the virus in 2003.

The UK Health Security Agency said genetic analyses of samples suggest that the virus’ spread “has gone beyond a close network of a few individuals,” while “a few” samples have mutated enough to be dangerous.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) said the risk to the public remains low, but recommended an inactivated polio vaccine booster dose for children age 1-9 in London.

A Pakistani health worker gives a polio vaccine to a girl in a passenger train, in Karachi, Pakistan on May 7, 2018. (File photo:AP)

The urgent immunisation campaign will see nearly a million children offered the vaccine - including those already up to date with their jabs.

The campaign aims to reduce the chance of children catching the virus and raise immunity levels to prevent its spread.

Pakistan reports first poliovirus case in nearly 15 months

Children will be offered the inactivated vaccine - which contains a "dead" virus and has no risk of spreading. This is the form of polio vaccine the UK has used since 2004.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said on Wednesday (August 10): “Vaccines offer the best defense to children, and those around them, so I would encourage families to ensure they are up to date with their routine jabs, and to come forward for the polio booster as soon as they are contacted.”

On the JCVI’s advice, authorities will start “with the most impacted boroughs, so we can ensure they have the best possible protection and we reduce the chances of transmission,” he added.

levantnews-aa

New buyer sought for first grain to leave Ukraine under deal Climate change: Drought and heat drain Spanish reservoirs

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”