Global reduction in morbidity and mortality due to vaccine development against major infectious pathogens, 1974‑2024 (Review)

Vaccination remains one of the most effective and equitable interventions in public health, preventing infectious disease and transforming global survival. Since the launch of the World Health Organization Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1974, vaccine innovation and coordinated international partnerships have reshaped child health worldwide. The present review synthesizes evidence from the Global Burden of Disease Study, WHO/UNICEF, Gavi and Our World in Data to evaluate global, regional and pathogen‑specific reductions in disease burden due to vaccination from 1974 to 2024. Data on coverage rates, deaths averted and inequities in access were analyzed to assess progress and remaining challenges. Since 1974, vaccination programs have saved the lives of ~150 million children globally, reflecting one of the greatest humanitarian achievements in history. Global coverage for major childhood vaccines, including DTP3, polio, measles and hepatitis B, has increased from <20% in 1980 to >80% in 2024. Africa and South‑East Asia accounted for almost 70% of the total lives saved, highlighting the success of targeted campaigns in high‑burden regions. Measles‑related deaths declined from 2.6 million (1974) to 73,000 (2024), and pneumococcal vaccination alone prevented approximately 400,000 deaths in 2019. However, inequities persist: In 2022, 89 countries reported vaccine stock‑outs, predominantly in low‑ and middle‑income regions. Between 1974 and 2024, global vaccination efforts have averted hundreds of millions of deaths, eliminated smallpox, and nearly eradicated poliomyelitis. Sustaining these gains and reaching the remaining unvaccinated populations will require equitable distribution, stronger health systems, and continued investment to fulfil the Immunization Agenda 2030 goals.