Final answer:
Vaccinations prevent up to 3 million deaths each year have eradicated smallpox and reduced the incidence of diseases like polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. Diseases like Ebola, without vaccines, continue to be a threat, illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This shows the importance of vaccines in preserving global health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vaccinations are a critical component in the fight against infectious diseases. They are exceptionally effective, saving as many as 3 million lives each year. Thanks to the worldwide distribution of vaccines, smallpox has been eradicated, and other diseases like polio and measles are now far less common in many parts of the world.
Using weakened live viral vaccines, immunization campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s achieved significant successes, such as the near elimination of polio, which once caused widespread fear due to its serious symptoms, including muscle paralysis in children. With the development of vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, mass immunization has been pivotal in reducing the incidence of these diseases, leading to the routine dispensation of childhood vaccines that keep millions healthy.
While vaccines have had a positive impact on global health, there are still diseases without vaccines, such as Ebola, which resulted in over 11,000 deaths during the 2014-2015 outbreak. This highlights the ongoing need for vaccine research and development to address emerging health threats. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the essential role of vaccinations in public health, with an estimated 7 million deaths worldwide in the past three years.