Vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. - statistics & facts
Vaccine-preventable diseases are those for which an effective vaccine exists. Vaccines, used worldwide as a preventative healthcare measure, provide protection against a range of common and/or serious diseases. Since the 1980s, the use of vaccines has reduced the incidence of these diseases (in the case of smallpox leading to disease eradication), and in turn has prevented approximately 2.5 million deaths a year. Importantly, it has also reduced the rate of child mortality. The global health community, with the backing of the World Health Organization, is committed to working towards a world in which all individuals and communities enjoy lives free from vaccine-preventable diseases.
