[The need for preventive vaccination of children and adolescents in highly civilized industrial countries].

The advance of social and hygienic structures in industrialised countries since the beginning of the 20th century caused a significant change in the spread and pattern of many infectious diseases in these areas. Diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis began to disappear assisted in vaccination. The so-called "children's diseases" appeared more and more in later childhood and adolescence. This involved an increase of complications, in the first place neurological disorders. This dramatic change necessitated active immunisation against measles, mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis. The newly recommended schedule of vaccinations in children in the Federal Republic of Germany is based on the present situation of infectious diseases in Central Europe. It is necessary to perform these vaccinations completely to obtain high immunisation rates. It is only then that diphtheria and tetanus can be prevented in future, and that measles, mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis can be eliminated in Europe.