A new study has shown that emergency vaccination during outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, Ebola, and measles has reduced deaths from these diseases by nearly 60% over the past 25 years.
The study, published this week in the British Medical Journal Global Health, found that a similar number of infections were averted and that the economic benefits of vaccination campaigns are estimated at billions of euros.
The study was supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, an international organization that contributes to the vaccination of children in the world's poorest countries, relying on funding from public and private sources.
The organization collaborated with researchers from the Burnet Institute in Australia to conduct the world's first study of its kind, highlighting the impact of emergency vaccination efforts on improving public health and strengthening global health security.
"For the first time, we can comprehensively measure the human and economic benefits of deploying vaccines against some of the most dangerous infectious disease outbreaks," said Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, in a statement. She added, "This study clearly demonstrates the power of vaccines as a cost-effective response to the growing threat of epidemic outbreaks facing the world."
The study examined 210 outbreaks of five infectious diseases (cholera, Ebola, measles, meningitis, and yellow fever) in 49 low-income countries between 2000 and 2023.
The results show that vaccine deployment in these settings contributed to a reduction in the number of infections and deaths by nearly 60% for the five diseases.
The impact was more pronounced for some diseases, with vaccination campaigns reducing the number of deaths resulting from yellow fever outbreaks by 99% and the number of deaths resulting from Ebola by 76%.
At the same time, emergency vaccination campaigns significantly reduced the risk of epidemics and their spread.
The study also estimates that vaccination efforts during these outbreaks generated economic benefits of approximately €27 billion, through averted deaths and disabilities.
The report suggests this amount is likely lower than the actual estimate, as it does not take into account the costs of responding to epidemics, nor the widespread social and economic impacts resulting from the disruptions caused by major epidemics.
For example, the cost of the Ebola outbreak that struck West Africa in 2014, before approved vaccines were available, and whose effects spread to various parts of the world, is estimated at more than €45 billion for West African countries alone.
This study comes after the World Health Organization warned in April of a global increase in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever, due to the spread of misinformation and declining international support.
Gavi is seeking new funding amid shrinking international aid, especially since Washington announced last month that it would end its support for the organization.
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