A brief history of vaccination

Summary

Advances in sanitation and healthcare have significantly reduced child mortality, with vaccines playing a crucial role. Diseases like smallpox and polio have been eradicated or drastically reduced through global immunization campaigns. The 21st century sees a life-course approach to vaccination, with vaccines for all age groups. Maintaining high immunization rates is vital as it prevents disease resurgence and reduces healthcare costs. The Global Vaccine Action Plan estimates significant savings through vaccination, and new vaccines for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and Ebola are in development, promising a future with more vaccine-preventable diseases.

Takeaways

• 💉 Sanitation and health care advances have significantly reduced child mortality rates.
• 🌟 Vaccines have had a profound impact on children's health, with smallpox being a notable success story.
• 🌍 The global immunization campaign against smallpox led to its eradication by 1979.
• 📉 The polio eradication program has reduced cases by 99% since 1988.
• 🇺🇸 In the U.S., diseases like diphtheria and congenital rubella syndrome have been eliminated.
• 🇪🇺 Europe is committed to eliminating measles and rubella in the coming years.
• 👶👵 A life course approach to vaccination is emerging in the 21st century, focusing on all age groups.
• 💪 Good immunization coverage is crucial as it prevents the resurgence of diseases and associated death rates.
• 💰 Vaccines help reduce health care spending, with an estimated $63 billion saved between 2011 and 2022.
• 🔬 New vaccines for diseases like HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and Ebola are in development.

Q & A

How has child mortality been affected by advances in sanitation and health care?

Child mortality has significantly decreased in recent decades due to advances in sanitation and health care.

What role have vaccines played in improving children's health historically?

Vaccines have had a significant impact on children's health, with smallpox being a notable example where a global immunization campaign led to its eradication.

How many people did smallpox kill worldwide in the 20th century?

Smallpox killed between 300 and 500 million people worldwide in the 20th century.

When was smallpox declared eradicated by the World Health Organization?

The World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1979.

What has been the impact of the polio eradication program since 1988?

The polio eradication program has reduced the number of cases by 99 percent since 1988.

Which diseases have been eliminated in the U.S. due to vaccination efforts?

Diphtheria and congenital rubella syndrome have been eliminated in the U.S. through vaccination efforts.

What is Europe's commitment regarding measles and rubella?

Europe is committed to beating measles and rubella in the coming years.

Why is it important to maintain good immunization coverage rates?

Maintaining good immunization coverage rates is important because when they fall, diseases can return and death rates can rise.

How do vaccines help in reducing health care spending?

Vaccines help to reduce spending on health care and treatment, with the global vaccine action plan estimating that 63 billion dollars will be saved between 2011 and 2022 using existing vaccines.

What new vaccines are currently in development?

New vaccines against HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and Ebola are currently in development.

What does the future hold in terms of vaccine-preventable diseases?

In the future, we can expect more diseases to become vaccine-preventable due to the development of new vaccines and the effective implementation of vaccination programs.