Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 1: Diseases that once claimed millions of lives and left generations devastated are now rarely seen, thanks to the success of vaccination programmes over the past century. As World Immunisation Week (April 24–30) is observed globally, health experts highlight how vaccines have transformed public health and protected younger generations, particularly Gen Z, from several life-threatening illnesses.
Vaccination efforts have not only eradicated certain diseases but also pushed many others to the brink of elimination, fundamentally changing global health outcomes.
Among the major diseases that Gen Z has largely been shielded from is smallpox, once one of the deadliest infections in human history. It remains the only human disease to be completely eradicated, following a global vaccination drive that concluded in 1980.
Polio, which paralysed thousands of children annually, has now been nearly wiped out, with only a few cases reported in limited regions. Similarly, measles, once a common and often fatal childhood disease, has seen a drastic decline since the introduction of vaccines in the 1960s.
Diseases like mumps and rubella, which caused severe complications including birth defects, have also been significantly controlled through immunisation. The combined MMR vaccine has played a key role in reducing their prevalence worldwide.
Hepatitis B, a major cause of chronic liver disease and cancer, has seen reduced transmission rates due to widespread vaccination, particularly in newborns. Likewise, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), once responsible for severe infections like meningitis in children, has become rare in many regions.
Tetanus, though still present in the environment, is now uncommon due to routine immunisation programmes.
Experts emphasise that these diseases have not entirely disappeared but have been effectively controlled through sustained vaccination efforts. They caution that continued immunisation is crucial to prevent resurgence.
World Immunisation Week serves as a reminder that the absence of these diseases in everyday life is not accidental, but the result of decades of consistent public health initiatives and global cooperation.