Replies

“Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children — United States, 1990-1998”

“At the beginning of the 20th century, infectious diseases were widely prevalent in the United States and exacted an enormous toll on the population.

“For example, in 1900, 21,064 smallpox cases were reported, and 894 patients died.

“In 1920, 469,924 measles cases were reported, and 7575 patients died; 147,991 diphtheria cases were reported, and 13,170 patients died.

“In 1922, 107,473 pertussis cases were reported, and 5099 patients died.”

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056803.htm

“Polio vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1955. During 1951-1954, an average of 16,316 paralytic polio cases and 1879 deaths from polio were reported each year. Polio incidence declined sharply following the introduction of vaccine to less than 1000 cases in 1962 and remained below 100 cases after that year.”

“Measles vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1963. During 1958-1962, an average of 503,282 measles cases and 432 measles-associated deaths were reported each year. Measles incidence and deaths began to decline in 1965 and continued a 33-year downward trend. This trend was interrupted by epidemics in 1970-1972, 1976-1978, and 1989-1991. In 1998, measles reached a provisional record low number of 89 cases with no measles-associated deaths.”

“Before the first vaccine was licensed, an estimated 20,000 cases of Hib invasive disease occurred each year, and Hib was the leading cause of childhood bacterial meningitis and postnatal mental retardation....In less than a decade, the use of the Hib conjugate vaccines nearly eliminated Hib invasive disease among children.”