Vaccination as a Pillar of Global Health: From Smallpox to Re-emerging Diseases

Eduardo Antonio Lara-Pérez*

MD Pediatrician, Mexican Academy of Pediatrics, Professor, CEO Medical Health Fraternity "Doctors United for Mexico", Mexico

*Corresponding Author: Eduardo Antonio Lara-Pérez, MD Pediatrician, Mexican Academy of Pediatrics, Professor, CEO Medical Health Fraternity "Doctors United for Mexico", Mexico.

Received: August 31, 2025; Published: September 29, 2025

Abstract

Vaccination represents one of the most significant achievements in public health, fundamentally transforming the fight against infectious diseases. From Edward Jenner's pioneering innovation for smallpox, which culminated in its global eradication in 1980, to the accelerated development of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, vaccines have proven their ability to prevent, control, and eradicate pathogens. Despite these successes, the reemergence of preventable diseases, such as measles and polio, highlights the fragility of herd immunity and the impact of anti-vaccine movements. Furthermore, climate change introduces a new layer of complexity by altering the geographical distribution of vectors like mosquitoes, which favors the emergence of diseases like chikungunya and malaria. This manuscript explores the historical evolution of immunization, analyzes recent vaccine technologies, and discusses the interconnected challenges of disease resurgence, public skepticism, and the impact of climate change, underscoring the need for continuous surveillance and a proactive global health strategy.

Keywords: Vaccination; Immunization; COVID-19; Re-emerging Diseases; Climate Change; Public Health; Smallpox; Chikungunya; Malaria; Herd Immunity

References

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Citation

Citation: Eduardo Antonio Lara-Pérez. “Vaccination as a Pillar of Global Health: From Smallpox to Re-emerging Diseases". Acta Scientific Paediatrics 8.10 (2025): 25-27.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Eduardo Antonio Lara-Pérez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.