The Israeli experience in the control of poliomyelitis during a quarter of a century, 1957-1982.

Data are presented on the programs and the results of immunization against paralytic poliomyelitis in Israel during the 25-year period 1957-1982. To control severe outbreaks of the disease, Israel introduced Salk-type inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) on a large scale in 1957 and used it for a period of five years. Vaccination with IPV had a beneficial effect, demonstrably reducing the morbidity from poliomyelitis. In 1961, Sabin's oral poliovirus vaccine ( OPV ) was first used during an epidemic outbreak of the disease and has been in continuous use since. Vaccination with OPV has resulted in a highly significant decrease in the incidence of the disease, although sporadic cases continued to occur. This program was supplemented for the past four years with an annual mass vaccination campaign in "high-risk" areas of the country. These additional preventive measures have resulted in a further reduction in morbidity but not in the complete disappearance of the disease.