Vaccinations have saved 154 million lives of children and adults over the past 50 years, says UNICEF

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) global routine vaccination program turns 50 this year. On the occasion of that anniversary, WHO, UN children’s rights organization UNICEF, the BMGF foundation and Gavi, a public-private partnership to increase access to vaccines in poor countries, concluded that vaccinations saved approximately 154 million lives during that period. That makes vaccines “the most important health intervention ever,” UNICEF said in a press release.

The measles vaccine alone resulted in approximately 94 million fewer deaths. Globally, the vaccination program has reduced infant mortality by 42 percent and saved 101 million babies. The largest decline in child mortality is observed in Africa.

In addition, thanks to vaccines, more people are living in good health by avoiding medical complications such as paralysis from polio. According to UNICEF, the analysis therefore proves that “vaccinations play a crucial role in protecting children and other vulnerable groups by significantly reducing the risk of serious illness and helping to prevent dangerous infectious diseases from spreading.”

Philippe Henon, spokesperson for UNICEF Belgium, says that the figures show the importance of continued investments in vaccinations: “Economic crises, environmental threats and increasing distrust in science threaten to undermine the progress made and put millions of lives at risk. We must structurally continue to invest in countering misinformation and providing the right information to maintain confidence in vaccinations.”