Epidemiological analysis of immunity to poliovirus after termination of an era of vaccination with OPV in Germany. An analysis of the German Association Against Viral Diseases (DVV).

The global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000 is an objective of the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 1998, after a period of 37 years of vaccination using live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), single use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) has been recommended in Germany. The present epidemiological analysis shows the immunity of 3474 patients to poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3 by using a microneutralization assay. A non-age-specific evaluation of antibodies seroprevalence to poliovirus type 1 remained 81% and similarly, for poliovirus type 2 86% while the poliovirus type 3 decreased from 78% in 1990-1992 to 68% in 1997. In the important group of children aged 5-14 years, the prevalence of antibodies to type 3 decreased clearly from 74% in 1990 to 47% in 1997. The relatively favorable level of seroprevalence of antibody to type 2 in children aged 1-4 years (89%) indicates a good acceptance of vaccination programs. However, a good immunity to all 3 serotypes was not achieved by primary vaccination. The objective of a global eradication of poliomyelitis has not yet been be achieved. Great problems still exist, especially in Africa and Asia.