The Contribution of Vaccines to Public and Global Health

Vaccination is one of the most effective measures in public health. Edward Jenner performed the first scientific attempt to control the source of infectious disease, using vaccination when he developed the first vaccine against smallpox in 1976. For decades, vaccinology has become a complex multidisciplinary science that has enabled the licensure of vaccines that were technically impossible decades ago in the last years. This article summarizes the main benefits that vaccines have brought to public health.

Decrease Human Mortality and Morbidity

Vaccination was primarily developed against the spread of smallpox. Smallpox is a disease responsible for 8-20% of deaths in several European countries in the 18th century. The science of vaccines is the only science that has allowed eradicating an infectious disease, making it one of humanity’s most outstanding achievements.

For example, polio has almost disappeared due to the global vaccination effort. With a vaccination coverage rate of 90-97 percent in Japan, polio cases have dropped from 1000 to 5000 per year to zero for several decades. Thus, vaccines have contributed significantly to the decline in mortality, especially among children, and the significant increase in life expectancy over the past two decades.

Prevention of Non-Infectious Disease and Cost-Effectiveness Ratio

Recent years have brought the opportunity to develop therapeutic vaccines to control chronic diseases or cancer, which, although promising, are mostly still in clinical trials. It is also essential to highlight the vaccines against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that have helped treat cervical cancer or the vaccine against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) for liver cancer prevention. In this regard, vaccination has demonstrated its cost-effectiveness, which is key to its progress and acceptance. For example, it is estimated that the eradication of smallpox, which costs roughly 100 million USD in total, generates annual savings of 1.35 billion USD

Indirect Effects

Vaccines have been found to reduce antimicrobial immunity by reducing the need for antibiotics. And socially, vaccines have made young people much fitter, which is associated with better school performance and higher incomes later in life. Vaccines are among the primary interventions to improve health internationally and reflect a more promising option for treating infectious and non-infectious diseases such as cancer. However, many challenges remain. Therefore, developing new and effective vaccines and access to them by people in need internationally is becoming a global challenge.