Polio Vaccination During Pregnancy

To the Editor.— In "Vaccination and Disease Prevention for Adults" (1982; 248:1607), Goodman et al note in the Table thatinactivatedpoliovirus vaccine (IPV) is contraindicated during pregnancy on theoretical grounds. I question use of that rather standard phraseology with regard to either IPV or the oral live-virus vaccine (OPV). During the mid-1950s, when IPV first became available, among those with highest priority for immunization were pregnant women. They were not noted to suffer untoward effects nor did their offspring suffer birth defects. In the case of OPV, it is well known that the vaccine virus often spreads to other family members after being given to children within the family. Consequently, many susceptible pregnant mothers have been "immunized" along with their children. There is no evidence that they or their pregnancy outcomes have been adversely affected as a result. In short, I see no reason to withhold either IPV or