vaccines

Vaccines are considered one of the greatest inventions in human history, surpassing other medical tools in effectiveness.
Globally distributed vaccines have eliminated some dangerous diseases in certain regions.

The concept of vaccination dates back to Edward Jenner, who is recognized as the founder of immunization.
- Jenner's work in the 18th century led to the eventual eradication of smallpox.
- Smallpox had afflicted humans for thousands of years, with origins possibly dating back 10,000 years before Christ.
- Historical evidence indicates that signs of smallpox were detected in mummies, including that of Pharaoh Ramses V.
Smallpox caused massive fatalities, affecting all social classes, including notable figures such as:
- Queen Mary II of England
- Saint Peter II of Russia
- King Louis XV of France

Jenner made an observation regarding milkmaids who had contracted cowpox (the animal variant of smallpox):
- These individuals appeared to be immune to smallpox.
Jenner performed an experiment by:
- Taking material from a cowpox sore
- Injecting it into a young boy, leading to the boy's immunity against smallpox.
The term "vaccination" was derived from the Latin word for cow, "vacca."

The eradication of smallpox exemplifies how minimal investment can yield substantial returns:
- Larry Brilliant estimated the economic burden of smallpox in India at $150 million per year in 1978, with:
- One-third of costs were related to treatment
- Two-thirds pertained to loss of life.
The cost of the final push towards smallpox eradication was approximately $3.5 million annually.

Before the global eradication campaign, the USA:
- Vaccinated 5.6 million people annually.
- Re-vaccinated an additional 8.6 million people who traveled to areas with prevalent smallpox.
- Invested $21 million into the global eradication campaign, leading to savings of $300 million per year post-eradication.

Vaccines have reduced the incidence of various diseases, including:
- Measles
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Mumps
- Tetanus.
In the 20th century, there were over a million vaccine-preventable disease cases annually in the USA, primarily among children:
- Half of these cases were associated with measles.
Vaccination efforts have effectively reduced deaths by approximately:
- 10 million deaths every year globally.

A 1998 study indicated that without vaccines, the world would be susceptible to:
- 5 million deaths from smallpox
- 1.7 million deaths from measles
- 1.3 million deaths from neonatal tetanus
- An additional million deaths from various other diseases.
The United Nations highlighted that expanded vaccination could prevent around:
- 15.6 million child deaths within the first thirteen years of the millennium.
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) was formed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation among others in response to these needs.

SDG 3.2 emphasizes reducing neonatal and child mortality rates by:
- 2030, aiming for:
- Neonatal mortality rates to be less than 12 per 1,000 live births
- Under-five mortality rates to be below 25 per 1,000 live births.
Unfortunately, global leaders have not adequately met these targets:
- Mortality rates for children under five have been declining, but the pace slowed during the COVID pandemic.
- Projections suggest that if trends continue, many low and middle-income countries may still fall short of achieving SDG targets by 2030.

Throughout history, vaccination faced criticism based on:
- Religious beliefs
- Political opposition
- Scientific objections.
The Compulsory Vaccination Act of 1853 mandated vaccinations for infants in England and Wales, leading to concerns over personal liberties.
- Resulted in an estimated 25 million children under one year of age missing essential vaccinations since 2009, with an increase of 6 million since 2019.

It is estimated that current vaccination efforts could save:
- 3.8 million children born in 2022 compared to a situation without vaccination.
- Approximately 2 million of these lives are at risk in their early years.
Performing a comparative analysis against a scenario with no increased immunization rates indicates:
- Additional lives saved by higher vaccination rates.
From 2023 until the end of the SDG period, additional vaccine investments could prevent approximately:
- 4.1 million deaths, with an annual cost of $1.66 billion, compared to benefits worth $167 billion, yielding a return on investment of $101 for every dollar spent.

Edward Jenner's pioneering work has significantly changed the landscape of public health.
Emphasizing the need for improved vaccination efforts to save lives and reduce preventable diseases going forward is critical.