Which vaccine is the first to have helped eliminate a disease from a continent?
Quick Answer
The measles vaccine helped eliminate endemic measles from the Americas, a major regional milestone achieved in 2016. This was the first WHO region to do so.
The Full Story
Measles vaccination played the central role in eliminating endemic measles transmission from the Americas, which the World Health Organization certified in 2016. That meant the virus was no longer continuously spreading in the region, though imported cases could still occur. The measles vaccine had been in use since the early 1960s and became a cornerstone of childhood immunization. The achievement showed how high vaccination coverage can interrupt transmission of a highly contagious virus.
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