Prospects of eradicating poliomyelitis by 2007: compulsory vaccination may be a strategy.

ABSTRACT

The polio eradication has reached at a critical juncture. The progress was good until year 2000, and since then no major success has been achieved. The year 2006 can easily be termed as 'nightmare period' as there was sudden increase of polio cases in the affected countries this year. The threats of re-emergence and importation continued. The apprehensions became stronger, while the target elusive. This situation requires an immediate decisive action, by the international health community, to eradicate polio at the earliest possible. This article draws some lessons from polio eradication program in last two decades, along with analyzing the concept, feasibility and applicability of compulsory vaccination for achieving the goal of polio eradication by the end of the year 2007.