Vaccines are among the most impactful innovations in human history. Here are just a few of their many positive effects.
Vaccines are a miracle of modern medicine. In just the past 50 years, they have saved 154 million lives. Roughly one-third of those have been in Africa.
Vaccines have transformed many diseases from life-threatening to easily preventable. Polio, which can lead to permanent paralysis and death, once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year. Thanks to vaccines, there are now only a few thousand cases of polio per year.
Similarly, cases of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis have dropped significantly due to robust global vaccination campaigns.
Deaths from measles – one of the world’s most transmittable diseases – have plummeted thanks to vaccines. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has played a critical role in helping get these and other vaccines to people in every corner of the globe.
Vaccines have played a crucial role in fostering healthier societies, which pays economic dividends.
Gavi’s return on investment is massive. Every US$1 spent delivering vaccines and improving health systems generates US$54 in value.
Despite high returns on investment, health programmes like Gavi struggle to raise adequate resources. The money exists to provide quality health services to every person on the planet. It’s political will that’s missing.