The Importance of Vaccination in Strengthening Global Health Systems

Vaccination has been a cornerstone of public health, dramatically decreasing global morbidity and mortality.Beginning in the early 1980s, with the success of killing smallpox through vaccination, the rallying cry for immunization has switched from eliminating the spread of smallpox to stopping larger diseases like polio, measles, and diphtheria -saving millions of lives annually.More than just reducing disease burden, vaccines deliver economic hits: For every dollar invested, the societal cost of a vaccine is up to $44.On a large scale, low-cost but targeted campaigns in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) have reduced child mortality and emphasized the importance of immunization infrastructure in globalization.While gaps in access and hesitancy remain, there remain ways in which gaps in access and hesitancy can be overcome with advancements in technology and increased fluency in health system capacity.This review focuses on the epidemiological, economic, and social impacts of vaccines and their contribution to the attainment of global health goals, reduction of healthcare costs, and strengthening of resilient healthcare systems.Salient to this vaccine centrality is that the possibilities of universal coverage are still possible by bridging infrastructural and cultural barriers.