These 12 Vaccines Saved the Most Lives – 24/7 Wall St.
12 vaccines in history that saved the most lives,
Smallpox
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 300 million in the 20th century
> Vaccine introduced: 1796
> Vaccine impact: 5 million lives a year saved
Pertussis (Whooping cough)
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 160,000 a year worldwide
> Vaccine introduced: 1914
> Vaccine impact: 160,700 lives a year saved
Tetanus (Lockjaw)
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 787,000 a year worldwide
> Vaccine introduced: 1924
> Vaccine impact: 96% reduction in mortality since 1988
Diphtheria
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 15,000 Americans in the 1920s
> Vaccine introduced: 1921
> Vaccine impact: Almost 100% decrease in cases
Measles
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 2.6 million a year worldwide
> Vaccine introduced: 1963
> Vaccine impact: 23.2 million lives saved between 2000-2018
Seasonal Influenza (Flu)
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 290,000 to 650,000 a year worldwide
> Vaccine introduced: 1942
> Vaccine impact: Reduces risk of getting sick by up to 60%
Spanish flu
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 50 million
> Vaccine introduced: 1942
> Vaccine impact: Cross-protection from multiple related strains
Polio
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: About 50,000 between 1910 and 1960
> Vaccine introduced: 1953
> Vaccine impact: Disease is nearly eradicated worldwide
Ebola
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 11,310 between 2014 and 2016
> Vaccine introduced: 2015
> Vaccine impact: Vaccine is effective 97.5% of the time
Yellow fever
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 5,000 in 1793 in US
> Vaccine introduced: 1935
> Vaccine impact: Lifelong protection for most people
Cholera
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: Up to 143,000 worldwide
> Vaccine introduced: 1885
> Vaccine impact: 65%-85% protection for up to 5 years
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
> Estimated deaths before widespread immunity: 371,000 a year
> Vaccine introduced: 1990s
> Vaccine impact: Lowers the risk of invasive disease