Lessons from the eradication campaigns.
Of seven global eradication programs this century, only two have relied primarily on vaccines for control measures - those against smallpox and poliomyelitis. Smallpox is history and polio could possibly achieve a similar status within the next decade. The hallmarks of these successful programs were surveillance and community outreach and involvement. However, a research agenda, so crucial to smallpox eradication, has largely been ignored or dismissed by polio program managers. This could prove to be a serious, even fatal error.
Henderson
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The John Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Candler Building, Suite 850, 111 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.
D006801:Humans; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012899:Smallpox / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination