Sarah Bennett
Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. They work by causing an immune response that protects individuals from contracting specific diseases. Vaccines have been available for decades to prevent various illnesses, including pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and more recently, COVID-19. Global vaccination efforts have saved countless lives and prevented millions of hospitalizations, especially among children, who are often the most vulnerable to infectious diseases. While there may be concerns about vaccine safety and side effects, the benefits of vaccination in preventing disease and reducing disease rates significantly outweigh the risks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vaccines prevent diseases | Respiratory diseases, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, yellow fever, malaria, pneumococcal disease, COVID-19 |
| Vaccines reduce disease severity | COVID-19, RSV, COVID-19 |
| Vaccines reduce hospitalizations | RSV, COVID-19 |
| Vaccines reduce deaths | RSV, COVID-19, Malaria |
| Vaccines prevent disability | Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP3) |
| Vaccines prevent birth defects | Rubella infections can cause congenital rubella syndrome, which can include deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and neurodevelopmental impairment. |
| Vaccines have side effects | Pain, redness, swelling, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, muscle or joint pain, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) |
| Vaccines have rare adverse events | CDC continues to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and rare adverse events |
| Vaccines are safe for pregnant people | CDC recommends pregnant people receive a dose of the tetanus vaccine during each pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant or lactating people, as well as those intending to become pregnant. |
| Vaccines are periodically updated | COVID-19 vaccines are periodically updated to fight new variants of the virus. |
| Vaccines have high coverage | 85% of infants worldwide received 3 doses of DTP3 in 2024. |
| Vaccines have low coverage | In 2024, 14.3 million infants did not receive the initial dose of DTP, and an additional 5.6 million were partially vaccinated. 20.6 million children missed their first dose of measles vaccine in 2024. |
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What You'll Learn
Vaccines reduce infant mortality
Vaccines have been available for decades to prevent diseases such as pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus. Vaccines have significantly reduced infant mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Between 1990 and 2019, vaccines against diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, rotavirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b prevented approximately 86.9 million deaths in children under five. The DTP vaccine saved 46.7 million lives, while the measles vaccine saved 37.9 million.
The impact of vaccines on reducing infant mortality is evident in the decrease in neonatal tetanus cases. From 2000 to 2020, cases of neonatal tetanus decreased by 88% worldwide, with only 2,229 cases reported in 2020. This reduction is attributed to pregnant people receiving the tetanus vaccine during pregnancy and improved delivery practices.
Vaccines have also played a crucial role in preventing congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and neurodevelopmental impairments in newborns. Additionally, vaccines have helped reduce infant mortality by preventing other vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumococcal disease and polio.
A recent World Health Organization (WHO) study found that vaccines alone accounted for 40% of the decline in infant mortality over a 50-year period. The study estimated that vaccines prevented 154 million deaths, with 146 million lives saved among children under five, including 101 million infants. The availability of vaccines has made the world a much safer place for young children, contributing to a significant decrease in infant mortality rates since 1974.
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Vaccines prevent serious illness
Vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illnesses and have been available for decades to combat various diseases. For instance, the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines are designed to fight the newest COVID-19 variants, and flu shots are updated annually to protect against the most likely flu strains for the upcoming season.
The CDC recommends RSV vaccines for adults aged 75 and older and those aged 50-74 who are at high risk of severe RSV disease. One dose of the RSV vaccine can protect against RSV disease in adults aged 50 and older for at least two years. While side effects like pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site may occur, they are typically mild and less severe than the illness itself.
In the case of childhood vaccinations, a CDC study estimated that routine vaccinations prevented approximately 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations, and over a million deaths among children born between 1994 and 2003. Vaccines not only protect individuals from severe illness, hospitalization, and death but also have broader societal benefits, such as reducing direct healthcare costs.
Vaccines are particularly crucial for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions or those taking immunosuppressant medications, as they are more susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are often on immunosuppressants, yet they have low vaccination rates due to concerns about vaccine safety and effectiveness. However, it is important to note that vaccines are generally safe and can protect these vulnerable individuals from serious illnesses.
While some people may advocate for individual choice and oppose vaccine mandates, health experts emphasize the importance of community protection. Vaccines not only safeguard the individual but also reduce the spread of contagious diseases, protecting those around us, especially those who are medically vulnerable.
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Vaccines reduce hospitalisations
Vaccines have been available for decades to prevent diseases such as pneumococcal disease and rotavirus. They work by causing an immune response that can protect the body from respiratory disease if one gets infected in the future. For instance, the CDC recommends everyone ages 75 and older get an RSV vaccine to protect against RSV disease. Similarly, the COVID-19 vaccine gives 85% protection against severe disease, and offering COVID-19 boosters alongside influenza vaccinations could reduce hospitalisations and deaths.
A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia found that offering COVID-19 vaccination boosters with annual flu shots could reduce COVID-19 hospitalisations. The researchers used mathematical models to compare scenarios with different timings of COVID-19 vaccine delivery and concluded that increasing COVID-19 booster rates by offering them simultaneously with the flu vaccine was an effective strategy.
A Scotland study also revealed that hospitalisations due to COVID-19 were significantly reduced after the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines. After four weeks of the first dose, hospital admissions were reduced by 85% and 94%, respectively. Among those aged 80 and above, there was an 81% reduction in hospitalisation risk in the fourth week when the results for both vaccines were combined.
Furthermore, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalisation in the US. However, the CDC and ACIP conclude that RSV vaccination in adults aged 75 and older and those aged 50-74 at increased risk of severe RSV disease reduces RSV-associated hospitalisations and deaths. Thus, vaccines play a crucial role in reducing hospitalisations, especially for vulnerable populations.
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Vaccines prevent long-term damage
Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect yourself from serious diseases. They help to prevent long-term damage by reducing the occurrence of debilitating and permanent damage caused by certain diseases. Measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, and other vaccine-preventable illnesses can have severe and lasting effects on the body.
For instance, measles can lead to hearing loss, causing deafness in 5% to 10% of cases. It can also result in infertility, blindness, and intellectual disability due to its impact on the nervous system. Rubella, or German measles, can have severe consequences during pregnancy. If the fetus survives an early rubella infection, the baby may be born with congenital rubella syndrome, which includes deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and neurodevelopmental impairments.
Pneumonia, sepsis, and malaria are additional examples of illnesses that can affect unvaccinated individuals, as seen in the case of an unvaccinated 2-year-old boy in Sudan. The child experienced a relentless cycle of these diseases, highlighting the importance of vaccination in preventing such severe and recurring health issues.
Vaccines like the flu shot and RSV vaccine are essential in protecting against serious respiratory illnesses. The flu vaccine, for instance, helps prevent high fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue, reducing the risk of associated complications such as pneumonia, sinus infections, and ear infections. The RSV vaccine is recommended for adults over the age of 50 and those at increased risk of severe RSV disease, as it can protect against respiratory illness and reduce hospitalizations and deaths related to RSV.
In summary, vaccines play a crucial role in preventing long-term damage by reducing the risk of severe illnesses and their associated complications. They help protect individuals from debilitating and permanent health issues, ensuring a better quality of life and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
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Vaccines protect against new variants
Vaccines are designed to protect against diseases by causing an immune response that can safeguard individuals from infections. For instance, the CDC recommends the RSV vaccine for adults over 75 and those aged 50-74 who are at an increased risk of severe RSV disease. Similarly, vaccines for pneumococcal disease and rotavirus have been available for decades.
Vaccines are crucial in preventing diseases that can cause debilitating and permanent damage, such as measles, mumps, and rubella. For instance, newborns can suffer severe health issues if their mother is not immunized against these diseases. Moreover, in the case of pregnant people, a dose of the tetanus vaccine during pregnancy is crucial to prevent neonatal tetanus, which can be deadly for newborns.
Vaccines also play a vital role in reducing the risk of severe illness and death from emerging variants of viruses. For example, the COVID-19 vaccines have been updated to provide better protection against the Omicron variant and other circulating variants. The updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, such as Comirnaty and Spikevax, are designed to offer broader protection as the virus continues to evolve.
Furthermore, a new COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CoVEXS5, has shown strong potential in protecting against multiple coronavirus variants in mouse studies. By targeting features shared by various coronaviruses, this vaccine aims to provide longer-lasting protection as the virus evolves. CoVEXS5 was found to reduce virus levels in the lungs of infected mice by approximately 99.9% compared to unvaccinated controls, showcasing its protective effect.
Overall, vaccines are a critical tool in preventing diseases and protecting against new variants. They induce an immune response that safeguards individuals from infections and reduces the risk of severe illness and death.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, vaccines help prevent serious diseases and reduce disease transmission. Vaccines have prevented countless illnesses and saved millions of lives.
Examples of diseases that can be prevented by vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, polio, and COVID-19.
Vaccines work by causing an immune response that can protect the body from a specific disease. Vaccines teach the immune system to recognize and fight the disease-causing pathogen.
Yes, mild side effects such as pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, and muscle pain may occur. These side effects are typically mild and temporary.
