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Which vaccine-preventable diseases commonly affect infants and children?

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Infographic showing estimated lives saved by childhood vaccinations worldwide from 1974 to 2024, with syringe-shaped bars for each disease. Measles tops the list at 93.71 million lives saved, followed by tetanus, whooping cough, and others, for a total of 153.84 million lives saved. — childhood disease and disorder Vaccines and the estimates of lives saved over the period 1974–2024.

Vaccine-preventable diseases are infectious illnesses for which immunization programs have been developed to provide immunity and reduce mortality in infants and children. While some historically common childhood diseases, such as smallpox, have been eradicated through global vaccination efforts, many others remain significant health concerns.1234

Common vaccine-preventable diseases that affect infants and children include:

Viral infections: Measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), chickenpox, and polio.254
Bacterial infections: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).625
Other conditions: Hepatitis B and pneumonia (often caused by pneumococcal bacteria).25

Immunization is critical for protecting children, as these diseases can lead to severe complications or death, particularly in undernourished populations or areas with limited access to medical care. Vaccination programs have been remarkably effective, preventing millions of deaths globally and accounting for a significant portion of the decline in infant mortality over the last several decades.2743