History of Vaccination in Timeline

Vaccination involves administering a vaccine to stimulate the immune system and develop immunity against diseases. Vaccines contain weakened, live, or killed microorganisms or their components, triggering the body's adaptive immunity to prevent illness. When a significant portion of a population is vaccinated, herd immunity emerges, protecting those who cannot receive vaccines due to compromised immune systems. Vaccination is a crucial tool for preventing infectious diseases and safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

1905: Jacobson v. Massachusetts

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

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

1963: Introduction of Measles Vaccine

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

1974: WHO Confines Smallpox

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

1974: Vaccination Prevented Deaths

In 1974, 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 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.

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 finally eradicated, after causing an estimated 300–500 million deaths in the 20th century.

1980: WHO Declares World Free of Smallpox

In 1980, the WHO officially declared the world free of smallpox.

1990: Low Vaccination Rates in Developing Countries

In the 1980s, only 20 to 40% of children in developing countries were vaccinated against six diseases, the target set by the WHO in 1974 for universal vaccination by 1990.

1998: Wakefield's Paper Linking MMR Vaccine to Autism

In 1998, a paper by Andrew Wakefield suggested a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism. The study concluded that eight of the twelve patients, aged three years of age to 10 years of age, developed behavioral symptoms consistent with autism following the administration of the MMR vaccine. The article was widely criticized for lack of scientific rigor and it was proven that Wakefield falsified data in the article.

2000: Vaccinations Prevented Deaths

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

2000: Establishment of GAVI

In 2000, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) 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.

2003: SARS Outbreak Cost

In 2003, the SARS outbreak in East Asia cost $54 billion.

2004: Retraction of Wakefield's Paper

In 2004, 10 of the original 12 co-authors (not including Wakefield) published a retraction of the 1998 article 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 Contingent on Sanitation

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 2007, studies regarding the effectiveness of vaccines found almost 100% decreases in death rates and about a 90% decrease in exposure rates regarding various diseases in the United States.

2009: H1N1 Pandemic Vaccine Adverse Events

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.

2009: Public Health Law Research Report on Vaccination Requirements

In 2009, Public Health Law Research reported there is insufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of requiring vaccinations as a condition for specified jobs; there is sufficient evidence supporting the effectiveness of requiring vaccinations as a condition for attending child care facilities and schools; and there is strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of standing orders, which allow healthcare workers without prescription authority to administer vaccines.

2010: The Lancet Retracts Wakefield's Article

In 2010, The Lancet officially retracted the 1998 article by Wakefield, stating that several elements of the article were incorrect, including falsified data and protocols.

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, the World Health Organization 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: Dengvaxia Suspension in the Philippines

In 2017, 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, resulting in the suspension of a mass vaccination program in the Philippines.

2019: End Date of Vaccine Impact Assessment

December 2020: Start Date of COVID-19 Vaccination Impact Assessment

According to a June 2022 study, vaccinations against COVID-19 prevented an additional 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupted Vaccinations

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

December 2021: End Date of COVID-19 Vaccination Impact Assessment

According to a June 2022 study, vaccinations against COVID-19 prevented an additional 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.

June 2022: COVID-19 Vaccinations Prevented Additional Deaths

According to a June 2022 study, COVID‑19 vaccinations prevented an additional 14.4 to 19.8 million deaths in 185 countries and territories from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 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 in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023.

2023: Vaccination Programs Getting Back on Track

By summer 2023, UNICEF described vaccination programs as getting "back on track" after disruptions from 2020 onwards due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: DTP Vaccination Coverage Stalled

In 2023, a WHO/UNICEF report found "the number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) stalled at 84% (108 million).

2024: WHO/UNICEF Report on Immunization Coverage

In 2024, a WHO/UNICEF report found the number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) in 2023 stalled at 84% (108 million).