Poliovirus Vaccine and Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses

To the Editor: The Perspective article by Modlin 1 and the articles on polio immunization by Mohammed et al. 2 and Jenkins et al. 3 (June 24 issue) reflect the dilemma of eradication: it cannot be accomplished without discontinuing the use of the oral vaccine that has brought us close to eradication. Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) strains inexorably revert to virulence. It has been obvious for years that inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) prevents paralysis caused by the passage of poliovirus through the blood to the central nervous system. The article by Mohammed et al. shows that IPV also could be used economically. The . . .