HEALTH officials in St Helens and Knowsley are urging members of the public not to be alarmed by the recall of a brand of oral polio vaccine.

The Medicines Control Agency have recalled all remaining stocks of a brand of the oral polio vaccine used in routine childhood vaccination programmes and travel vaccinations.

The vaccines in question, which were produced by MEDEVA, were being made using some bovine material sourced from the UK. Guidance issued in 1999 instructed manufacturers to stop using this material as there could be a minimal risk (so small that it is considered incalcuable) that the material could carry traces of BSE which is linked to the human form of the disease variant CJD.

Director of Public Health, Dr Diana Forrest, said: "The recall of this vaccine has been done as a precaution and no real danger has been identified. It is worth noting that the bovine material used was never actually present in the finished vaccine -- it was washed off in a purifying process after it had been used to grow the vaccine.

"Polio is a potentially lethal disease which causes paralysis and severe disability. All doctors will now have supplies of a replacement polio vaccine which is produced without use of any material from cows. Parents will be doing the best for their children if they allow them to have the polio vaccine to protect them from this serious disease."

If you are concerned, you can discuss the matter with your family doctor or practice nurse. Alternatively, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 (calls charged at local rate). Information is also available on the website at www.doh.gov.uk.