[Eradication of infectious diseases and vaccination]. / Eradication des maladies infectieuses et vaccination.

ABSTRACT

Immunizations in man may act upon the infectious diseases development in three evolutive patterns eradication, elimination, or disease control. Since the eradication of smallpox, very few diseases are at present candidates for a next eradication; poliomyelitis will be the first, perhaps followed by measles in many years. In spite of efficacious vaccines and a solely human reservoir, the eradication requires very strict conditions. However some diseases have been recently successfully eliminated poliomyelitis (Americas, Europe, West Pacific regions), measles (i.e. Finland, United States), rubella (i.e. Finland). In spite of some limits, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B are well controlled providing to get a sufficient vaccine coverage and to improve a sustained surveillance of those diseases. Regarding Haemophilus influenzae b, infections it is premature to predict a near elimination and the control is not yet well defined. National and regional programs have often to improve immunisation coverage and a better surveillance.