Vaccination Against Poliomyelitis

Fewer cases of poliomyelitis were reported in the United States in 1957 than in any year since 1942. This is the third consecutive year that the number of cases has declined, which is unusual by itself, but the fact that this progressive decline in reported cases is accompanied by a decrease in paralytic rate and coincides with the increasingly widespread use of the Salk vaccine is widely accepted as proof that the vaccination program is responsible for the decline. This may be true, but all physicians are aware of the erratic and unpredictable behavior of poliomyelitis in the past and therefore wish to examine without bias or emotion the facts which have been presented by the most recent poliomyelitis season in order that logical recommendations and advice can be given in 1958. To this end, the present report contains partial and provisional epidemiologic data for 1957 and related information which