A recent paper in the Lancet showes vaccines saved 154 million lives over the past 50 years. Vaccines account for 40% of the decline in infant mortality over the last 50 years with plummeting and globally, they’ve fallen by over two-thirds, from around 10% in 1974 to less than 3% today. That’s 154 m children. Over 60% were from measles vaccination, and 95% from children vaccinated under 5 year.

Key Points:

• EPI’s Impact: The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has been instrumental in saving 154 million lives since its inception in 1974.
• Disease Coverage: EPI has expanded its coverage to include 13 vaccine-preventable diseases across the lifespan.
• Measles Impact: Measles vaccination has been the most influential vaccine in saving lives, accounting for 60.8% of the total lives saved.
• Infant Mortality: Vaccination has significantly reduced infant mortality, with 40% of the decline attributed to EPI.
• Lifelong Benefits: The protective effects of vaccination extend beyond childhood, with individuals of all ages benefiting from increased survival rates.
• Regional Variation: The impact of vaccination varies across regions, with some areas experiencing larger absolute gains and others showing higher relative benefits.
• Challenges: The study highlights the need for continued efforts to maintain high vaccination coverage, address vaccine hesitancy, and strengthen immunization systems.

Notable Insights:

Equity and Access: The study emphasizes the importance of ensuring equitable access to vaccination, particularly in regions with high mortality rates.

Long-Term Impact: The study provides compelling evidence for the long-term benefits of vaccination, demonstrating its impact on both infant and adult mortality.

Measles’ Significance: Measles vaccination has been a game-changer in global health, saving millions of lives.

Other Diseases Dropping Mortality

Vaccines for diseases other than measles are also reducing mortality such as yellow fever and polio. Expect more recent vaccines to also reduce mortality.

References

1. Contribution of vaccination to improved survival and health: modelling 50 years of the Expanded Programme on ImmunizationShattock, Andrew J et al.The Lancet, Volume 403, Issue 10441, 2307 – 2316 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)00850-X/fulltext
2. Vaccines have reduced infant mortality by 40% over the last 50 years Dr Hannah Ritchie https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights