Following the publication of a WHO statement in February 2016 regarding the international spread of poliovirus, NaTHNAC advises that vaccination is no longer recommended for countries that last reported a case of poliovirus before January 2012. These are:
- Angola
- Central African Republic
- China
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Gabon
Polio vaccination recommendations and certificate requirements for other countries remain unchanged.
Travellers visiting countries where cases of wild-type polio have been reported since January 2012 should receive a booster dose of polio-containing vaccine if they have not received one within the past 10 years.
All travellers, regardless of destination, should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. Travellers are encouraged to carry evidence of their polio vaccination status.
The updated country-specific recommendations can be found at mims.co.uk/travel and in the new MIMS Travel Health Clinic, and will appear in the June print edition of MIMS.