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

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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.

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