Current issues in evaluating the efficacy of oral poliovirus vaccine and inactivated poliovirus vaccine immunization.

Although epidemic poliomyelitis in the United States has been eliminated, there are a number of current issues that concern the use of oral attenuated poliovirus vaccine in comparison with the new enhanced-potency inactivated vaccine. Although wild-type poliovirus is almost eradicated in developed nations, vaccine-induced polio exists, at a low but persistent rate. This article reviews the current issues and suggests a return to the Institute of Medicine's 1988 recommendations concerning combined immunization with inactivated poliovirus vaccine and oral poliovirus vaccine.