For every generation, vaccines work

“I was born in 1946. During my childhood years, up to 2 million people a year died of smallpox. My generation got vaccinated and helped with the eventual eradication of the disease,” says Joe (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). 

The eradication of smallpox stands as one of humanity’s greatest public health triumphs. Around the world, smallpox was a widespread scourge, affecting mostly infants and young children, often disfiguring those it did not kill. Through a coordinated global effort, which intensified between 1967–1980 under the leadership of WHO, vaccination campaigns reached millions, creating immunity and breaking chains of transmission. Careful surveillance, rapid response to outbreaks and widespread public cooperation ensured no cases were left unchecked. At last, in 1980, the world was declared free of smallpox, saving countless lives in the years and decades to come and preventing suffering on a massive scale. This achievement proves that science, collaboration and persistence can overcome even the most devastating diseases known to humankind.

“It was obvious to me to vaccinate my baby with all the recommended vaccinations, to protect him and the community. I see vaccination as a civic responsibility, and I’m grateful for the scientific progress that has allowed us to prevent some terrible diseases,” says Elisa (Italy). 

Vaccines not only protect individuals; they also protect communities. Herd immunity happens when high numbers are vaccinated, so the bacteria or viruses have fewer chances to spread, and outbreaks slow down or stop. This helps shield people who are more vulnerable, such as newborns, older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Every vaccination is a small action that adds up to a safer environment for everyone. High vaccine coverage keeps health systems stronger and communities more resilient.

“We might be part of the older generation, but we’re very active in our community. Every year, we protect ourselves by getting vaccinated against flu,” says Richard and Margaret (Scotland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

The severity of seasonal influenza is sometimes underestimated, but it can be deadly for those most at risk. In the WHO European Region, seasonal influenza is thought to cause up to 1.9 million severe cases and 25 000 deaths annually, with older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions and health workers among the most vulnerable. Vaccination is the best protection, and flu vaccines are updated every year to match the influenza strains most likely to circulate. Meanwhile, scientists track influenza viruses globally, watching closely for new strains with pandemic potential, so they can act fast to protect communities.

“I saw both opinions for and against vaccination but didn’t feel I could trust what I was reading about vaccines. That’s why I turned to Iona [a health mediator], someone I could actually talk to. […] Having my children vaccinated gives me peace of mind because I know my family’s health is protected,” says Claudia (Romania). 

As online misinformation grows, false claims spread faster than facts, undermining confidence in immunization. This has real-world consequences: lower uptake reduces herd immunity, leaving infants, immunocompromized people and others at higher risk. Several countries in our Region have seen measles outbreaks linked to declining vaccination coverage, despite safe and effective vaccines being widely available. Talking with a trusted and qualified health professional helps people assess sources, address concerns and make informed decisions. Accurate guidance protects individuals and communities, and supports stronger, more resilient health systems.

“When I was young, some Central Asian countries faced several serious polio outbreaks. My parents protected me by getting me vaccinated. Today I do the same for my son, because vaccination is the best way to make sure future generations never face those outbreaks again,” says Mubina (Uzbekistan). 

For much of the 20th century, polio paralysed or killed hundreds of thousands of children each year, spreading rapidly across countries and leaving lifelong disability in its wake. Once widespread on every continent, the virus thrived where immunity was low and health services were out of reach. Today, thanks to sustained vaccination campaigns, strong surveillance and community health workers, polio has been pushed to the brink of eradication, with cases reduced by more than 99%. But, as long as the virus is circulating anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere, including in countries certified as polio-free. Eradicating the disease means reaching every child with vaccination, detecting importations of the virus and stopping outbreaks quickly, and ensuring lasting global commitment until transmission ends everywhere.

“I was vaccinated against rubella as a child, and it now helps protect my unborn baby, giving me comfort and peace of mind,” says Marianne (Denmark). 

 

Rubella once caused major global epidemics that led to tens of thousands of miscarriages, stillbirths and cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), characterized by deafness, cataracts, heart defects and intellectual disabilities. The first rubella vaccine was introduced in 1969 and later widely delivered as part of the measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine. Routine immunization plus catch up campaigns have driven sharp declines in rubella and CRS, leading to verification of rubella elimination in 49 of 53 countries in the WHO European Region. If a woman is vaccinated in childhood, she develops long lasting antibodies that prevent infection during pregnancy, which block the spread of the rubella virus to the foetus. High routine immunization coverage of boys and girls also creates herd immunity, reducing circulation and protecting unvaccinated pregnant women. 

“I decided to vaccinate my 12-year-old daughter against HPV because I don’t want my child to suffer from a disease that can be prevented. Vaccination is a simple gesture, but one with enormous power,” says Lyudmila, a Ukrainian refugee in the Republic of Moldova. 

 

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects against infection with high-risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. In the WHO European Region, vaccination is offered to girls, and in many countries also to boys, before they become sexually active. The vaccine is highly effective at preventing infections and precancerous cervical changes caused by the HPV types it targets, especially when given on time. As a result, countries with strong vaccination programmes that were early introducers of the vaccine are seeing fewer HPV infections, fewer cervical abnormalities and, in the earliest vaccinated age groups, now also declining cervical cancer rates.

“I’m very optimistic for the prospects for vaccination, because it is one of the most effective public health interventions that humankind has invented so far,” says Dr Lela Bakradze (Georgia).

Novel vaccines in development offer potential tools to broaden our defences against more diseases and strengthen protection against diseases like HIV, malaria, polio and tuberculosis. They will also minimize the threat of future outbreaks of diseases that are as of yet unknown. Researchers are advancing “platform” technologies, such as messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and viral vectors, which can be adapted more quickly when new threats emerge. Encouragingly, new findings suggest vaccination may also benefit some people with noncommunicable diseases by training the immune system in helpful ways, with early studies exploring impacts on certain cancers and inflammatory conditions.