[The need for preventive vaccination of children and adolescents in highly civilized industrial countries]. / Uber die Notwendigkeit von Schutzimpfungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter in hochzivilisierten Industriestaaten.

The advance of social and hygienic structures in industrialised countries since the beginning of the 20th century caused a significant change in the spread and pattern of many infectious diseases in these areas. Diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis began to disappear assisted in vaccination. The so-called "children's diseases" appeared more and more in later childhood and adolescence. This involved an increase of complications, in the first place neurological disorders. This dramatic change necessitated active immunisation against measles, mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis. The newly recommended schedule of vaccinations in children in the Federal Republic of Germany is based on the present situation of infectious diseases in Central Europe. It is necessary to perform these vaccinations completely to obtain high immunisation rates. It is only then that diphtheria and tetanus can be prevented in future, and that measles, mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis can be eliminated in Europe.

[BCG vaccination of the newborn infant with the 131 Copenhagen strain]. / Untersuchungen zur BCG-Impfung des Neugeborenen mit dem Stamm 1331 Kopenhagen.

From October 1, 1979 to September 30, 1981 a prospective study on the side-effects of BCG inoculation was conducted in the cities of Duisburg, Essen, and Mülheim, in very close cooperation with practising pediatricians, public health authorities, and obstetric departments. Particular consideration was given to suppurating regional lymphadenitis. In the period covered by the study 21.294 infants from 23.390 live births (i.e., 89%) were BCG-vaccinated using the Copenhagen 1331 strain manufactured by Behringwerke. A suppurating regional lymphadenitis occurred in 66 cases, i.e., a complication rate of 0.3%. The conversion ratio was high. Out of 8.144 documentation forms that could be assessed 6.840 (84%) attested to a positive tuberculin reaction caused by prophylactic test U 4. If the result of this test was negative a second test, after Mendel-Mantoux, strength 10, was used. According to this a total of 7.311, i.e., altogether 98.4% of the inoculation results evaluated, were positive. Both the conversion ratio as well as the incidence of ulcers at the vaccination site depend to a slight degree on the concentration of units in the vaccine which are capable of reproduction, to the extent that at higher concentrations the conversion ratio increases, as does the number of ulcers at the vaccination site.

[Hepatitis B vaccination: the danger of AIDS transmission]. / Hepatitis-B-Impfung: Gefahr der AIDS-Ubertragung?

The safety of the hepatitis B vaccine H-B- Vax derives from a very strict screening of plasma donors as well as an extensive production process consisting of several purification and three inactivation steps. During a follow up of about 20 000 vaccine recipients over a 7 year-period, no known occurrence of AIDS or other infectious diseases have been associated with the vaccine. Also no known case of AIDS occurred in a group of 200 000 persons at low risk vaccinated since 1981. The hepatitis B vaccine is highly recommended to all people at high risk in Western Germany by the health organizations as well as the WHO.