Successful Results of a Program Combining Live and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccines to Control Poliomyelitis in Gaza

Abstract

Trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (roPV) has been used in Gaza since 1967. After an initial decrease of 33% in the incidence of the paralytic disease, no further decrease could be noted. The mean annual incidence until 1977 was 10 per 100,000 inhabitants. Two outbreaks caused by poliovirus type 1 were registered in 1974 and 1976 with an incidence of 18 per 100,000 inhabitants. In these outbreaks, 34% and 50% of the affected children, respectively, had receivedthree to four doses of ropy. A new vaccination schedule was introduced in 1978, combining live and inactivated poliovirus vaccines. In the years 1978–1980, the incidence decreased to 2.6 per 100,000 inhabitants; and during 19811982, only three cases were recorded. These results indicate that a schedule like the one used in Gaza could serve as a model to control poliomyelitis in developing countries where ropv alone is not successful.