Poliomyelitis: epidemiology and prophylaxis. 2. Distribution of oral trivalent vaccine by lay volunteers.

In contrast to other vaccines, oral poliomyelitis vaccine is ingested, in the form of drops. In countries with insufficient health personnel, countrywide vaccination campaigns should therefore be possible at little cost if use is made of lay volunteers. The feasibility of such a method was tested in a pilot project carried out in a district of Kenya. The response of volunteers and parents was good and coverage of the susceptible child population was sufficient to recommend this method for a countrywide campaign in the event of a threatening epidemic. Alternatively, such a team could travel around the country, organizing campaigns in one district after another. Because epidemics in Kenya occur at regular intervals the territory should be covered within 3 years.