[The perspective of global eradication of poliomyelitis].
In recent years, Germany and Switzerland have changed national policies to recommend vaccination with IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) instead of OPV (oral polio vaccine) for protection against poliomyelitis. An all IPV-schedule in routine childhood polio vaccination eliminates the - albeit minimal - risk of OPV-associated paralytic poliomyelitis. However, the impact of such a vaccination scheme on the goal to eventually eradicate poliomyelitis on a global level remains debatable. Published studies indicate that vaccine-derived poliovirus may persist in the environment for prolonged periods of time even after completion of a global eradication programme that relies on the near-exclusive use of OPV in the developing countries. Travellers vaccinated with IPV only might become silently infected with vaccine-derived virus, shedding it in large quantities. We therefore plead for a vaccination schedule that includes at least one last dose of OPV to induce strong mucosal immunity.
Knolle
H
H
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Institut für Biometrie.
Egli
A
A
Candrian
U
U
D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014195:Travel; D014944:World Health Organization
D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D011055:Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral; D023321:Poliovirus Vaccines