Vaccine-derived poliovirus has been detected in wastewater during routine surveillance of untreated sewage at a treatment plant in Perth. This is an environmental detection and the risk to the community remains very low. There are no confirmed cases of polio in Australia. High vaccination coverage provides strong protection and helps prevent the virus from spreading.

In response to this detection, the WA Department of Health is increasing the frequency of wastewater poliovirus testing in the Perth metropolitan area and working with clinicians to enhance existing systems for detecting polio in WA hospitals. This detection reinforces the effectiveness of Australia’s robust disease surveillance and monitoring systems. While Western Australia remains polio-free and vaccination coverage for polio is high, this detection serves as a reminder for everyone to check they are up to date with routine vaccines and for immunisation providers to recall patients who are not fully vaccinated given vaccination is the only way to protect against polio.

Polio vaccination is included the routine childhood immunisation schedule and is free under the National Immunisation Program for children aged:

• 2 months

• 4 months

• 6 months and

• 4 years

Children under 10 years of age should receive a total of 4 doses, given at least 4 weeks apart. If the third dose is given at older than 4 years of age, then only 3 total doses are required. Children aged 10 years and older require a total of 3 doses, with a minimum interval of 4 weeks between each dose.

Free catch-up vaccination is also available for eligible people under 20 years, and refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age.

For more information see the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommendations.