The Chilean experience with antipoliomyelitis vaccination.

The classical epidemiological picture of poliomyelitis in Chile completely changed in the 70s after the control programme had been steadily initiated in the early 60s. The technical and administrative approaches developed by the programme are presented. The epidemiological, immunological, managing and cost advantages of oral attenuated polio vaccine have proven in the Chilean experience to be highly efficacious when the vaccine is given to a community on the basis of permanent programmes with sufficient coverage. Different technical and administrative strategies in furnishing polio vaccine and the backing of the health infrastructure of the country have proved to be successful in reducing incidence to zero. The active role of the community, the steady and permanent adjustment of the programme, the integration of vaccination activities to a place of prime importance in local health services and epidemiological surveillance are all considered to be highly important in the results obtained.