Are vaccines an effective tool to prevent disease?

I'll search the latest evidence on how well vaccines prevent disease.

Yes, vaccines are considered one of the most effective tools to prevent disease, according to major public health authorities and extensive evidence:

•The World Health Organization states: "Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases." Over the past 50 years, essential vaccines against just 14 diseases have saved at least 154 million lives. During the same period, vaccination has contributed to 40% of the drop in infant deaths.

•Vaccines save at least 4 to 5 million lives every year. Globally, immunization prevents between 3.5 million and 5 million deaths each year from diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza, and measles.

•The WHO currently ranks vaccination as one of the most effective and cost-effective public health interventions, and notes we now have vaccines to prevent more than 30 life-threatening diseases and infections.

•Vaccines are also described as critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. They work by safely training the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens before they can cause serious illness.

•Historic successes include disease eradication and control:

•Smallpox, which killed hundreds of millions, was eradicated in 1980

•Vaccines are considered one of the greatest medical achievements. They have eradicated smallpox

•Polio cases have been reduced by more than 99% since 1988

•In the United States alone, CDC research shows that routine vaccinations for children born during 1994–2023 will have prevented about 508 million illnesses and 32 million hospitalizations and saved over 1.1 million lives. Vaccines are available for potentially dangerous or deadly diseases and over the years, these vaccines have prevented countless cases of disease and saved lives.

Effectiveness varies by vaccine, disease, age group, and coverage levels, but the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence demonstrates vaccines are effective in preventing the spread of contagious diseases.

Citations (3)

1who.intGovernment
Vaccines and immunization: Vaccine safety
Backs: “Yes, vaccines are considered one of the most effective tools to prevent disease, according to major public health authorities and extensive evidence: The World Health Organization states: "Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases." Over the past 50 years, essential vaccines against just 14…”
2un.orgGovernment
How Effective are Vaccines? History of Immunization
Backs: “During the same period, vaccination has contributed to 40% of the drop in infant deaths.”
3cdc.govGovernment
Vaccines and the Diseases they Prevent
Backs: “They have eradicated smallpox. Polio cases have been reduced by more than 99% since 1988. In the United States alone, CDC research shows that routine vaccinations for children born during 1994–2023 will have prevented about 508 million illnesses and 32 million hospitalizations and saved over 1.1 million lives.”