Herpes simplex virus: benefit versus risk factors in immunization.

Vaccines developed against herpes simplex viruses (HSV) should be effective in two respects: (i) they should prevent primary infections and virus latency and (ii) if applied to individuals with recurrent herpetic lesions they should reduce the number of recurrences or at least mitigate the symptoms. The efficiency of vaccines which are presently available will be reviewed. Problems associated with the possible use of live attenuated or inactivated HSV vaccines will be discussed. Comparative aspects to existing vaccines against other herpes group viruses will be stressed.