Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Updated June 15, 2023
CDC works to strengthen immunization systems and vaccination activities worldwide to reduce vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) related death, disease, and disabilities. Guiding efforts over the next decade, CDC’s Immunization Program Impact Continuum (see below) reflects disease-specific targets to eradicate, eliminate, and control VPDs.
Explore the linked diseases below to learn more about CDC’s support of global efforts helping regions and countries to achieve these targets and build sustainable, country-owned health systems that can be leveraged across VPDs and other disease threats.
Goal
Goal
Description
Description
Diseases
Diseases
Eradicate
Eradicate
Eradication is defined as the worldwide absence of a specific disease-causing agent in nature. Deliberate public health interventions may be discontinued where the agent (virus, bacterium) no longer presents a significant risk for human-to-human transmission or from other sources. To date, smallpox remains the only human disease that has been eradicated.
CDC works with partners to eradicate polio worldwide through sound science and effective programming.
Eradication is defined as the worldwide absence of a specific disease-causing agent in nature. Deliberate public health interventions may be discontinued where the agent (virus, bacterium) no longer presents a significant risk for human-to-human transmission or from other sources. To date, smallpox remains the only human disease that has been eradicated.
CDC works with partners to eradicate polio worldwide through sound science and effective programming.
Eliminate
Eliminate
Elimination of disease is categorized into two types:
- Elimination of VPD transmission is defined as the absence of a disease or infection caused by a specific agent (virus, bacterium) in a defined geographic area. Deliberate public health interventions, including vaccinations, must be continued to prevent the reemergence of these diseases.
- Elimination of a VPD as a public health problem is defined as as an intensive intervention measure with a specific disease reduction target. When elimination is achieved, continued actions through disease detection and vaccinations are required to maintain the target and to advance the interruption of transmission of these diseases.
CDC works to eliminate the transmission of VPDs through more concentrated intervention measures, supporting sustainable programs to prevent the reemergence of a disease within communities, nations, and regions.
Elimination of disease is categorized into two types:
- Elimination of VPD transmission is defined as the absence of a disease or infection caused by a specific agent (virus, bacterium) in a defined geographic area. Deliberate public health interventions, including vaccinations, must be continued to prevent the reemergence of these diseases.
- Elimination of a VPD as a public health problem is defined as as an intensive intervention measure with a specific disease reduction target. When elimination is achieved, continued actions through disease detection and vaccinations are required to maintain the target and to advance the interruption of transmission of these diseases.
CDC works to eliminate the transmission of VPDs through more concentrated intervention measures, supporting sustainable programs to prevent the reemergence of a disease within communities, nations, and regions.
- With targets for elimination of transmission
- With targets for elimination as a public health problem
- Bacterial Meningitis (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis)
- Cervical Cancer (Human papillomavirus)
- Cholera
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies
- Tetanus (maternal and neonatal)
- With targets for elimination of transmission
- With targets for elimination as a public health problem
- Bacterial Meningitis (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis)
- Cervical Cancer (Human papillomavirus)
- Cholera
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies
- Tetanus (maternal and neonatal)
Control
Control
Control of vaccine-preventable disease is defined as the reduction of disease and death to low levels locally. To control the spread of these disease, CDC focuses on reducing illness and death from the highest burden VPDs, as well as pandemic prone VPDs, to protect communities.
Control of vaccine-preventable disease is defined as the reduction of disease and death to low levels locally. To control the spread of these disease, CDC focuses on reducing illness and death from the highest burden VPDs, as well as pandemic prone VPDs, to protect communities.
VPDs with control targets:
- Influenza
- Japanese encephalitis
- Tuberculosis
- Yellow fever
VPDs without control targets with vaccines recommended in all country immunization schedules:
- Diphtheria
- H. influenza type b disease
- Pertussis
- Pneumococcal disease
- Rotavirus gastroenteritis
- Tetanus (non-neonatal)
VPDs without control targets with vaccines recommended based on disease burden:
VPDs with control targets:
- Influenza
- Japanese encephalitis
- Tuberculosis
- Yellow fever
VPDs without control targets with vaccines recommended in all country immunization schedules:
- Diphtheria
- H. influenza type b disease
- Pertussis
- Pneumococcal disease
- Rotavirus gastroenteritis
- Tetanus (non-neonatal)
VPDs without control targets with vaccines recommended based on disease burden:
- CDC Global Immunization Strategic Framework (See Annex F – Living Annex of CDC Disease-Specific Activities Across the Immunization Program Impact Continuum)
- Scientific Publications on Global Immunization
