Enteric diseases remain a high public health priority for much of the world's population. Improvement of sanitation and hygiene would have a favorable impact on this problem, but resources are not available to effect these interventions worldwide. Thus, vaccines against some diarrheal diseases are needed urgently. There has been much success in this arena, but much more needs to be done. Solutions will depend on new and old technologies and on continued dedication of human and financial resources to address problems of global significance.