Immunogenicity, in Children, of Ultraviolet-Treated Poliomyelitis Vaccine

• Vaccines were prepared from several strains of poliomyelitis virus and exposed to ultraviolet radiation in thin, flowing films. Safety tests included both inoculation of monkey-kidney tissue cultures and intracerebral or intramuscular inoculation of monkeys. Potency tests were carried out in mice and monkeys. The vaccines were administered to children who came from a community practically free from poliomyelitis and whose immunity to one or more of the three common types of virus was low or zero in terms of antibody titers. The vaccines stimulated the production of antibodies to satisfactory levels that persisted well for at least a year with satisfactory booster response later. No correlation was found between the antibody levels attained and the potency of the vaccines as determined by tests on mice or monkeys. No untoward effects of the vaccines were observed.