Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

What to know

CDC works to strengthen immunization systems and vaccination activities worldwide to reduce death and disabilities related to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). Guiding efforts over the next decade, CDC's Immunization Program Impact Continuum reflects disease-specific targets to eradicate, eliminate, and control VPDs.

A health worker loads a syringe with vaccine

Definition of goals and terms

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Do you know the difference? Disease control, elimination, eradication. Control means local levels of disease are low. Elimination of disease means that the disease is no longer found in a specific area. Mali eliminated tetanus among newborns in the country by 2023. Elimination of infection means that the infection is no longer happening in a specific area. India eliminated polio transmission within the country by 2014. Eradication means that the disease or infection is no longer found anywhere in the world. The only human disease to be eradicated (so far) is smallpox. Every stage brings us closer to a healthier future. CDC.
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Goal: 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.

VPDs with eradication targets

Goal: eliminate

Elimination of disease is categorized into two types:

  1. 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.
  2. Elimination of a VPD as a public health problem is defined 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.

Goal: 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.

VPDs with established control targets:

  • Influenza
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Yellow fever

VPDs without established control targets with vaccines recommended in all country immunization schedules:

  • Diphtheria
  • H. influenza type b disease
  • Pertussis
  • Pneumococcal disease
  • Rotavirus gastroenteritis
  • Tetanus (neonatal)

VPDs without established control targets with vaccines recommended based on disease burden:

  • COVID-19
  • Dengue
  • Ebola virus disease
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis E
  • Malaria
  • Mumps
  • Typhoid
  • Varicella

Learn more‎

Learn about CDC's work to help meet the targets described above.
Global Immunization Strategic Framework
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Content Source:
Global Immunization