Cases of polio found in Ukraine, those visiting the country for a long period or those returning from there might need a booster vaccination

An unvaccinated young child in Ukraine suffered paralysis caused by the polio virus and has been hospitalised for it since then. A few people close to the child have also been diagnosed with asymptomatic polio infection. The cause of the infection is a mutated vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2. 

WHO and local officials are working together to find possible other infections and are evaluating the risk that polio might spread in the area. The last time that cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus were found in Ukraine was in 2015.

Protection against polio at high level in Finland

Finns are well protected against polio. The polio vaccine that is used is Finland does not contain living viruses and it cannot be the source of infections from vaccine-derived poliovirus. 

The vaccine is given free of charge as part of the national vaccine programme. Children are protected against polio by the 5 in 1 vaccine given when a child is 3, 5, and 12 months old, and the protection is enhanced by a vaccination at the age of 4 years. Coverage of polio vaccines among Finnish children is high - more than 98 percent. 

Adults must also make sure that they have had three doses of polio vaccine in their lifetimes. 

Boosters recommended for those travelling to and coming from at-risk countries

The basic series of a polio vaccination gives excellent protection against polio that causes serious symptoms of paralysis. There is usually no need to boost protection against it. However, booster vaccinations are recommended for those travelling to or coming from at-risk countries, if the person has plans to spend much time, or has have just had an extended stay in the area.

THL recommends a polio vaccination if more than 12 months have elapsed from the most recent vaccination, and if the person 

• travels for more than four weeks to Ukraine or some other country where the risk of contracting polio is high
• arrives in Finland after spending more than four weeks in a high-risk country. 

The polio vaccine is available at your own health centre. A vaccine for work-related travel is available at your occupational health service. 

People coming from Ukraine to Finland for work may need to be vaccinated

Those coming from Ukraine to Finland for work might need a polio vaccination. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, an employer is obligated to promote the health and safety of employees, including protection against diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. 

If necessary, employers can work together with municipal health officials. THL gives instructions on the use of the vaccines included in the national vaccine programme. 

Polio spread through respiratory tract or orally

It is possible to be infected by polio through the respiratory tract or orally. The virus passes through the digestive tract into the intestines, where it multiplies for several weeks. Occasionally the virus spreads from the intestines into the central nervous system, where it can harm nerve cells used for muscle activity, causing muscular paralysis and later atrophy. The polio vaccine effectively protects against the form of the disease that causes damage to the central nervous system.

Polio was declared eradicated from Europe in 2002. Wild polio virus can be found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Cases of disease caused by mutated vaccine-derived polio viruses have been found this year in several Asian and African countries. 

THL is monitoring the possible circulation of polio viruses in the population by examining wastewater samples for the viruses. Finland's most recent case of polio was found in 1985. 

Further information

Polio
(Traveller's health guide, in Finnsh)

Polio
(THL, in Finnish)

Polio vaccine
(THL, in Finnish)

Polio vaccines for those travelling to and arriving from at-risk countries
(THL, in Finnish)

Work-related vaccinations
(THL, in Finnish)

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative 
(GPEI)

Soile Blomqvist
Senior Researcher
THL
[email protected] 

Hanna Nohynek (polio vaccines and travel)
Head Physician
THL
[email protected]