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Eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases
1Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, Georgia 30030, USA. ahinman@taskforce.org
Annual Review of Public Health
|June 3, 1999
Summary
Disease eradication aims for zero worldwide infections, with smallpox being the only success. Measles is a potential next target, but global capacity and polio eradication efforts must be considered for future disease control.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Eradication is the permanent elimination of a specific infectious agent worldwide.
- Smallpox is the only disease eradicated to date.
- Poliomyelitis eradication is nearing completion, with significant progress in the Western Hemisphere and Western Pacific Region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the technical feasibility of eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases.
- To identify potential candidates for future eradication efforts.
- To assess the practical considerations for global disease eradication initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing licensed vaccines in the United States.
- Assessment of technical feasibility for eradicating specific diseases.
- Analysis of global capacity and resource allocation for eradication programs.
Main Results:
- Measles, hepatitis B, mumps, rubella, and Haemophilus influenzae type b are potential candidates for eradication.
- Measles is considered the most likely next target for eradication.
- Global capacity for eradication is limited, requiring careful planning to avoid hindering polio eradication.
Conclusions:
- Achieving disease eradication requires deliberate, global efforts and is the ultimate goal in disease control.
- While eradication is challenging, significant improvements in disease control are achievable with existing vaccines.
- New vaccine technologies may offer future opportunities for eradicating additional infectious diseases.