Thanks to the widespread use of vaccines, many childhood diseases that once posed significant risks have become rare or even virtually nonexistent, the New York Times reports.
However, in recent years, skepticism about vaccine safety has grown, with some parents opting to skip recommended vaccines for their children. This growing concern often overshadows the serious health risks posed by the diseases vaccines prevent. Here’s a look at six illnesses that were once common but are now largely controlled, thanks to vaccines.
1. Measles
Measles is an extremely contagious viral infection, often spread through coughing or sneezing. Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, nearly every child contracted the disease by age 15. The illness can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), and death. While the two-dose MMR vaccine is highly effective (about 97% effective in preventing measles), there has been a resurgence in recent years due to a decline in vaccination rates. In 2024, the United States saw 16 measles outbreaks, a significant increase from previous years.
2. Diphtheria
Diphtheria, caused by a bacterial infection, results in a thick, gray coating in the throat, which can suffocate its victims. The disease also affects the heart and nervous system, potentially causing heart failure and paralysis. Before widespread vaccination, diphtheria caused hundreds of thousands of cases annually in the US Now, thanks to vaccines, diphtheria is rare, with fewer than one case a year in recent decades.
3. Tetanus
Tetanus, commonly caused by bacteria in soil or animal feces entering the body through cuts or wounds, leads to painful muscle spasms and can cause severe complications like difficulty breathing and cardiac arrest. Tetanus once led to more than 500 cases per year in the US in the 1940s. With vaccination, cases have dropped to fewer than 50 annually since 2000, although the infection remains potentially fatal without prompt treatment.
4. Mumps
Mumps, caused by a viral infection, leads to swelling in the salivary glands, fever, and sometimes complications such as infertility and brain inflammation. The introduction of the mumps vaccine in 1967 resulted in a dramatic decline in cases. However, the US has seen periodic outbreaks in recent years, particularly in areas with lower vaccination coverage.
5. Rubella
Rubella, also known as German measles, typically causes a mild rash in children but can have devastating effects if contracted during pregnancy, leading to birth defects or miscarriage. The rubella vaccine, licensed in 1969, has nearly eradicated the disease in the US With vaccinations, rubella cases have fallen from about 47,000 annually to just six cases in 2020. While the disease is mostly eliminated in the US, cases still occur in other parts of the world.
6. Polio
Polio, once a widespread and terrifying illness, can cause paralysis or even death by affecting the muscles responsible for breathing. In the 1950s, the disease crippled and killed thousands each year. Following the introduction of the polio vaccine, cases in the US dropped dramatically. The disease was essentially eliminated by 1993, though sporadic cases have occurred since, including a public health emergency in 2022 due to a single case in New York.
While these diseases have largely faded from public consciousness, their devastating impact serves as a reminder of the importance of vaccines in preventing childhood illnesses. Despite occasional concerns over vaccine safety, the benefits of immunization in protecting both individuals and communities are clear, helping to keep these once-common diseases under control.
