How Vaccines Eradicated Common Diseases

The first vaccine is generally credited to Edward Jenner, an English doctor who injected fluid from a cowpox pustule into an incision on an eight-year old's arm on May 14, 1796. The boy then proved immune to smallpox, one of the deadliest diseases at that time. CDC data shows just how effective vaccination has been in eradicating major diseases in the United States. Take smallpox as an example. In the 20th century, it was responsible for 29,000 cases on average annually and in 2019, none were recorded, a 100 percent decrease. Even though the measles has made a minor resurgence in recent years (due to anti-vaccine decision making), its morbidity (case count) is nowhere near average annual highs in the 20th century. Read more.