Science Library Abstract
Published: 2000
SYNOPSIS
Vaccination does not account for the impressive declines in mortality seen in the first half of the century, nearly 90% of the decline in infectious disease mortality among US children occurred before 1940, when few antibiotics or vaccines were available.
TITLE
CITATION
Bernard Guyer, Mary Anne Freedman, Donna M. Strobino and Edward J. Sondik, Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: Trends in the Health of Americans During the 20th Century, Pediatrics, (December 2000), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.6.1307, https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/6/1307
“For children older than one year of age, the overall decline in mortality experienced during the 20th century has been spectacular. In 1900 >3 in 100 children died between their first and 20th birthday; today, <2 in 1000 die. Nearly 85% of this decline took place before World War II, a period where few antibiotics or modern vaccines and medications were available.” p.1313
“Once again, nearly 90% of the decline in infectious disease mortality among US children occurred before 1940, when few antibiotics or vaccines were available.” p1314
“Thus vaccination does not account for the impressive declines in mortality seen in the first half of the century, nearly 90% of the decline in infectious disease mortality among US children occurred before 1940, when few antibiotics or vaccines were available.” p 1315
