Abstract

Success in control of poliomyelitis in the USSRhas been achieved after mass immunization with oral polio vaccine (OPV) manufactured from attenuated Sabin strains. Procedures for large-scale production of the OPVhave been developed bySoviet researchers with the leadership of Chumakov and Smorodintsev, and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine have since been demonstrated. A mass immunization program was initiated in the USSRin 1959 and completedin 1960, covering 77.5 millionpeople or 36.7% of the entire population. This immunizationcampaign resultedin a sharp decreasein the incidenceof poliomyelitis: from 10.6 per 100,000 population in 1958 to 0.43 in 1963. Beginning in 1964 the incidence remained at a level of 0.01–0.1 per 100,000 population. At present the vaccination schedule consists of three basic vaccinations given to infants. Over 20 yearsof experience with OPVin the USSR has shown that this vaccine is a safe and efficient preparation.

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