Vaccines are the most powerful tools to protect against disease.
They safeguard millions of children and adults from life-threatening illnesses, including polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, measles, Hepatitis B, meningitis and influenza. Thanks to vaccines, smallpox disease has been eliminated from the planet. Wild poliovirus no longer circulates in most countries. Vaccines are also the most economical intervention, offering a sensible approach to reducing healthcare costs associated with infectious disease. Disease prevention successes such as these are largely attributed to the dedication and alliance of the immunization community, encompassing physicians, nurses, researchers, public policy makers, public health organizations and parents.