Viral Vaccines and Adverse Reac- Tions

Childhood immunisation has been credited with being responsible for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality over the past 40-50 years. It was the first item on the list of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the ‘Ten great public health achievements’ of the 20th century. The viral diseases smallpox and poliomyelitis were eradicated in the United States of America as a result of vaccination, with a substantial reduction in morbidity and mortality from measles, mumps and rubella. The new South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation schedule includes immunisation against the viral diseases hepatitis B and rotavirus, and vaccines against hepatitis A, varicella, influenza and human papillomavirus (HPV) are also available.