Vaccines Have Saved Over 150 Million Children in the Last 50 Years
According to a recent study published in the Lancet journal and coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines have played a crucial role in saving the lives of at least 154 million children worldwide in the last five decades. The study also revealed that over 92 million lives have been saved by measles vaccines alone.
Furthermore, for every life saved by vaccines, an average of 66 years of full health were gained, resulting in a total of 10.2 billion healthy years gained over the past 50 years. One of the most significant impacts of vaccination has been seen in the case of polio, where more than 20 million people who would have otherwise been paralyzed are now able to walk.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of vaccines in preventing once-feared diseases and highlighted the remarkable achievements in eradicating smallpox and on the brink of eradicating polio. He also mentioned the recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, which are pushing back the frontiers of disease prevention.
Ghebreyesus concluded by stating that with continued research, investment, and collaboration, millions more lives can be saved in the present and over the next 50 years. Vaccines have proven to be one of the most powerful inventions in history, with the potential to prevent and eliminate deadly diseases.
As we celebrate World Vaccination Week, these findings serve as a reminder of the tremendous impact vaccines have had on global health and the importance of continued efforts to ensure access to vaccines for all individuals.