History of Vaccination in Timeline

Vaccination involves administering a vaccine to stimulate the immune system, providing immunity against a disease. Vaccines contain weakened, live, or killed microorganisms, or their components, prompting adaptive immunity. Widespread vaccination leads to herd immunity, protecting vulnerable individuals. Vaccination is highly effective, demonstrated by the eradication of smallpox and the elimination of diseases like polio and tetanus in many regions. The WHO estimates that vaccination prevents 3.5–5 million deaths annually. From 1974 vaccination prevented 154 million deaths. However, declining vaccination rates, partly due to vaccine hesitancy, have led to resurgences of certain diseases.

1905: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Compulsory Vaccination Laws

In 1905, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld compulsory vaccination laws in the landmark case Jacobson v. Massachusetts, ruling that laws could require vaccination to protect the public from dangerous communicable diseases.

1959: WHO calls for eradication of smallpox worldwide

In 1959, the WHO called for the eradication of smallpox worldwide, as smallpox was still endemic in 33 countries.

1963: Measles vaccine introduced

In wealthy nations the number of measles cases had dropped dramatically after the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963.

1966: Smallpox cases worldwide

According to the WHO there were in 1966 about 100 million cases of smallpox worldwide, causing an estimated two million deaths.

1974: Vaccination prevents deaths

A WHO-funded study by The Lancet estimates that, during the 50-year period starting in 1974, vaccination prevented 154 million deaths, including 146 million among children under age 5.

1974: WHO Smallpox Vaccination Program Confines Disease

By 1974 the WHO smallpox vaccination program had confined smallpox to parts of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Somalia.

1974: WHO Adopts Goal of Universal Vaccination

In 1974, the WHO adopted the goal of universal vaccination by 1990 to protect children against six preventable infectious diseases: measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and tuberculosis.

1976: Swine Flu Vaccination Program Discontinued in the US

In 1976, the United States discontinued a mass swine flu vaccination program after 362 cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome were reported among 45 million vaccinated people. The CDC estimated that the incidence of Guillain-Barré was four times higher in vaccinated people than in those not receiving the swine flu vaccine.

1977: Last case of smallpox

In 1977 the WHO recorded the last case of smallpox infection acquired outside a laboratory in Somalia.

1979: Smallpox Eradicated

In 1979, smallpox was officially eradicated, after killing an estimated 300–500 million people in the 20th century. The eradication of smallpox represents a major milestone in vaccination history.

1980: WHO Declares World Free of Smallpox

In 1980, the WHO officially declared the world free of smallpox, marking a significant achievement in global health.

1990: Vaccination rates in developing countries

In the 1980s only 20 to 40% of children in developing countries were vaccinated against measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and tuberculosis. By 1990, the WHO's goal of universal vaccination was not achieved.

1998: Publication of Wakefield's Paper in The Lancet

In 1998, a paper published in The Lancet by Andrew Wakefield suggested a connection between vaccines and autism, specifically the MMR vaccine, leading to widespread controversy.

2000: Vaccination Death Prevention

According to a 2021 paper, between 2000 and 2019, vaccinations against several diseases prevented an estimated 50 million deaths.

2000: Establishment of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

In 2000, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization was established to strengthen routine vaccinations and introduce new and underused vaccines in countries with a per capita GDP of under US$1,000.

2001: Thimerosal Removed from Childhood Vaccines in the United States

In 2001, Thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines in the United States as a precaution, despite evidence supporting its safety and efficacy. Thimerosal was used as a preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in vials that contain more than one dose of a vaccine.

2003: SARS Outbreak Cost

In 2003, the SARS outbreak in East Asia resulted in an estimated cost of $54 billion.

2004: Co-authors Retract Wakefield's Paper

In 2004, 10 of the original 12 co-authors (not including Wakefield) published a retraction of the 1998 article in The Lancet and stated the following: "We wish to make it clear that in this paper no causal link was established between MMR vaccine and autism as the data were insufficient."

2006: Eradication of Polio

By 2006, global health experts concluded that the eradication of polio was only possible if the supply of drinking water and sanitation facilities were improved in slums.

2007: Vaccine Effectiveness Studies in the United States

In 2007, studies regarding the effectiveness of vaccines on mortality or morbidity rates of those exposed to various diseases found almost 100% decreases in death rates, and about a 90% decrease in exposure rates in the United States.

2009: H1N1 Pandemic

In 2009, Pandemrix, a vaccine for the H1N1 pandemic given to around 31 million people, was found to have a higher level of adverse events than alternative vaccines, resulting in legal action. However, a CDC study found that FDA-approved 2009 H1N1 flu shots were not associated with an increased risk for the neurological disorder narcolepsy.

2009: Public Health Law Research Report on Vaccination Effectiveness

In 2009, Public Health Law Research reported insufficient evidence to assess requiring vaccinations for specific jobs, sufficient evidence supporting required vaccinations for child care and schools, and strong evidence supporting standing orders for healthcare workers to administer vaccines.

2010: The Lancet Officially Retracts Wakefield's Article

In 2010, The Lancet officially retracted the 1998 article by Andrew Wakefield, stating that several elements of the article were incorrect, including falsified data and protocols. The article had sparked a much greater anti-vaccination movement, particularly in the United States.

2011: Andrew Wakefield Stripped of Medical License

In 2011, Andrew Wakefield, a leading proponent of the theory that MMR vaccine causes autism, was found to have been financially motivated to falsify research data and was subsequently stripped of his medical license.

2013: Vaccine Preventable Deaths in Children

In 2013, it was estimated that 29% of deaths of children under five-years-old were vaccine preventable.

2015: Study Confirms No Link Between MMR Vaccine and Autism

In 2015, a study confirmed that there is no link between autism and the MMR vaccine. Infants were given a health plan, that included an MMR vaccine, and were continuously studied until they reached five years old. There was no link between the vaccine and children who had a normally developed sibling or a sibling that had autism making them a higher risk for developing autism themselves.

2017: Suspension of Dengvaxia Program in the Philippines

In 2017, a mass vaccination program in the Philippines was suspended after Dengvaxia, the only approved vaccine for Dengue fever, was found to increase the risk of hospitalization for Dengue fever by 1.58 times in children of 9 years or younger.

2019: Vaccination Death Prevention

According to a 2021 paper, between 2000 and 2019, vaccinations against haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, Japanese encephalitis, measles, neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, rotavirus, rubella, streptococcus pneumoniae, and yellow fever prevented an estimated 50 million deaths.

December 2020: Start of COVID-19 Vaccination Data

Starting December 8, 2020, data began to be collected to assess the impact of COVID-19 vaccinations. According to a June 2022 study, these vaccinations prevented 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths by December 8, 2021.

2020: Children Missed Vaccinations Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

UNICEF reported on the extent to which children missed out on vaccinations from 2020 onwards due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

December 2021: COVID-19 Vaccination Impact Data

By December 8, 2021, COVID-19 vaccinations had prevented an estimated 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories since December 8, 2020, according to a June 2022 study.

June 2022: COVID-19 Vaccination Impact

A study in June 2022 estimated that COVID-19 vaccinations prevented 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories between December 8, 2020, and December 8, 2021.

2022: Increase in Unvaccinated Children

In 2022, the number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased from 13.9 million, according to a WHO/UNICEF report.

2023: Vaccination Programs Getting Back on Track

By summer 2023, UNICEF described vaccination programs as getting "back on track", after disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: DTP Vaccination Coverage Stalled

In 2023, a WHO/UNICEF report found that the number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) remained at 84% (108 million). The number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased to 14.5 million. UNICEF described vaccination programs as getting "back on track".

2024: WHO/UNICEF Report on Immunization Coverage

In 2024, a WHO/UNICEF report found that the number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) in 2023 remained at 84% (108 million), while the number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased from 13.9 million in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023.