What are the public health benefits of vaccination?

The UK’s immunisation programmes are world-leading and have led to a dramatic fall in serious infectious diseases. Smallpox has been eradicated globally and NHS immunisation programmes have eliminated from the UK infectious diseases that our grandparents used to fear, such as polio.³

Since the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1968 it is estimated that 20 million cases and 4,500 deaths have been averted in the UK.⁴

From 1970 to 2017 it is estimated that rubella vaccination has averted 1,300 babies being born with congenital rubella syndrome and 25,000 terminations.⁴

The current NHS immunisation schedule includes several vaccinations introduced in the last decade, that have helped reduce the burden of infectious diseases:

• Meningococcal B – this vaccination programme resulted in a 50% reduction in cases of invasive meningococcal disease among vaccine-eligible infants in the first 10 months of being introduced.⁵
• Shingles (herpes zoster) – which resulted in an estimated 17,000 fewer cases of herpes zoster and 3,300 fewer episodes of post-herpetic neuralgia in the first 3 years of the programme.⁶
• Rotavirus - this vaccination programme which resulted in a 77% decline in laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections among infants and a 26% decline in all-cause acute gastroenteritis hospitalisations in 2013/2014 compared to pre-vaccination years.
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine – this programme is estimated to have prevented over 38,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease across all age groups, including those not directly protected by the vaccine since its introduction in 2006.⁷
• HPV - Routine vaccination of girls aged 12-13 with the HPV vaccine has been associated with a profound reduction in cervical disease 7 years after vaccination.⁸

With the development of new vaccines, the NHS immunisation programme has expanded to offer protection against many infectious diseases to specific age groups and those most at risk from infection or complications.

Antimicrobial resistance

Vaccines can have a vital role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. If you can stop people from catching infections, you can reduce the number of antibiotics being used. And the less antibiotics are used, the lower the chance of resistance developing.

When enough people are vaccinated, it’s possible to stop the spread of infection – so-called ‘herd immunity’.

Making the most of the vaccines we have and ensuring as many people as possible are vaccinated is vital.

• The Hib vaccine has virtually eliminated infection caused by resistant influenzae type b.¹²
• Diphtheria and pertussis do not appear on lists of resistant diseases of public health concern because they are almost entirely preventable by vaccination.¹³
• Universal coverage of pneumococcal vaccination could avoid 11.4 million days of antibiotic use per year in children under five.¹²
• Antibiotic use for respiratory illnesses has been shown to fall by 64% after influenza vaccination is introduced.¹⁴

Pharmaceutical companies are constantly researching new vaccines to protect against other infections.

The UK Government has an opportunity to make sure vaccines are deployed effectively as part of their prevention strategy.

Reducing demand on the NHS

Flu vaccination is one of the most effective interventions to keep people well and reduce pressure on health and social care services during winter. Immunising older people reduces the incidence of severe disease including bronchopneumonia, hospital admissions and mortality.¹⁵

Before the introduction of a vaccination programme, Rotavirus infection in the under 5s was responsible for around 140,000 young children visiting the GP and 14,000 babies and young children being admitted to hospital every year, as well as 37,000 NHS Direct calls and 30,000 A&E attendances.³

Vaccination has led to a 69% fall in the number of cases of rotavirus.³

Keeping people healthy at all stages of life

With the proportion of people aged 60 years and older growing faster than any other population worldwide, vaccination has become a key component of healthy ageing and can slow down physical decline.^16,17

The NHS vaccinates older people against seasonal influenza, pneumococcal disease and shingles.¹⁰

Protecting people with existing health conditions

Vaccination helps people with serious and long-term conditions to stay well and avoid the need for medical care.¹⁸

The NHS offers some vaccines to groups of people who need extra protection from particular infectious diseases because they have underlying health conditions such as chronic heart, respiratory or neurological conditions, problems with the spleen or a weakened immune system.¹⁹

Stat-specific references

• 1948 – Number of NHS vaccinations against infectious diseases = 2⁹
• 2018 – Number of vaccinations against infectious diseases offered routinely or to people most at risk = 20^10,11

Page references

[1] Global Immunisation Factsheet (WHO, Jan 2018)

[2] Andre FE et al. Vaccination greatly reduces disease, disability death and inequity worldwide. Bulletin of World Health Organisation 2008;86:81-160.

[3] Why vaccinate (PHE, Apr 2018)

[4] UK measles and rubella elimination strategy 2019 (PHE, 2019)

[5] Parikh et al. Effectiveness and impact of a reduced infant schedule of 4CmenB vaccine against group B meningococcal disease in England: a national cohort study, Lancet online, 27 October 2016

[6] Amirthalingam, G., et al. Evaluation of the effect of the herpes zoster vaccination programme 3 years after its introduction in England: a population-based study. Lancet Public Health. 
2017 Dec 21. pii: S2468-2667(17)30234-7. doi: 10.1016/S2468- 2667(17)30234-7. [Epub ahead of print]

[7] Ladhani Sn et al. Rapid increase in non-vaccine serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal disease in England and Wales, 2000-17: a prospective national observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2018 Apr;18(4):441-451.

[8] Palmer T et. Al. Prevalence of cervical disease at age 20 after immunisation with bivalent HPV vaccine at age 12-13 in Scotland: retrospective population study. BMJ 2019;365:I1161. Available at https://doi.org./10.1136/bmj.I1161. Last accessed April 2019

[9] Department of Health: Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2007, Chapter 5 (DH, Jun 2018)

[10] Routine Immunisation Schedule January 2020 (PHE, Apr 2020)

[11] Chicken pox (NHS, 2020) and Travel vaccines (NHS, 2020)

[12] Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. POSTNote 581, July 2018

[13] Vaccines and alternative approaches: reducing our dependence on antimicrobials (Review on AMR, Fb 2016)

[14] Atkins and Lipsitch. Can antibiotic resistance be reduced by vaccinating against respiratory disease? Published:July 31, 2018

[15] National flu programme training slide set for 2019-20 (PHE, 2019)

[16] Preventing care and health aging (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2012)

[17] IFA Global Conference on Aging (International federation of Aging, 2020)

[18] Nichol KL et al. Influenza vaccination and reduction in hospitalizations for cardiac disease and stroke among the elderly. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1322-1332

[19] NHS vaccinations and when to have them (NHS, Apr 2020)