Control of influenza and poliomyelitis with killed virus vaccines.

The requirements for inducing immunity against an infectious disease are outlined, and the application of these requirements to the development of effective vaccines (vaccinology) is discussed. Influenza and poliomyelitis are examined from this viewpoint, and data are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of killed virus vaccines against these diseases. A comparison between live and killed poliovirus vaccines suggests the desirability of returning to the use of a killed virus vaccine for the eradication of polio. The natural history of influenza and experience with vaccination suggest that influenza might be brought under effective control by routine immunization in childhood with a polyvalent killed virus vaccine potentiated by an immunologic adjuvant.