Vaccines are one of the greatest achievements of public health! As time goes by, we may forget how common and devastating diseases like polio once were. In 1919, influenza and pneumonia were the leading causes of death. In the 1940’s & 1950’s, polio crippled or killed thousands of children every year. In the 1950’s, 400-500 people died each year from measles. Smallpox (now eradicated because of worldwide vaccination efforts) once killed 3 out of every 10 people who contracted it. Today, vaccines protect us against 18 deadly diseases! #PublicHealthMatters