The "Saved by Science" Myth
Did vaccines save us from infectious disease mortality? Or did better sanitation, nutrition, and living standards do the heavy lifting before vaccines even arrived?
The "Pre-Vaccine" Decline: A Comparative Overview
Percentage of mortality reduction achieved before the introduction of each vaccine.
| Disease | Peak Mortality (Year) | Pre-Vaccine Mortality (Year) | Decline % | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 13.3 (1900) | 0.2 (1963) | 98.5% | Nutrition, Vitamin A |
| Pertussis | 12.2 (1900) | 0.8 (1948) | 93.4% | Sanitation, Antibiotics |
| Diphtheria | 40.3 (1900) | 0.4 (1948) | 99.0% | Sanitation, Antitoxin |
| Tetanus | 3.5 (1900) | 0.2 (1947) | 94.3% | Wound Care, Hygiene |
| Tuberculosis | 194.4 (1900) | 10.2 (1954) | 94.7% | Sanitation, Nutrition |
| Scarlet Fever | 9.6 (1900) | 0.0 (1960) | 100% | Natural Cycle, Antibiotics |
Measles Mortality (1900-1970)
Notice the massive decline before the vaccine was introduced in 1963.
By 1963, the death rate had already plummeted by over 98% from its peak.
Polio Mortality (1910-1960)
The decline began before the Salk vaccine (1955).
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Mortality fell by over 90% before the DTP vaccine (1948).
Diphtheria Mortality
A massive 97% decline occurred before mass vaccination.
Typhoid Fever
Eradicated almost entirely through sanitation, not vaccination.
Scarlet Fever (Control)
Vanished without any vaccine, proving the sanitation theory.
Tetanus Mortality
Deaths fell by over 90% before the vaccine was widely used in the late 1940s.
Tuberculosis Mortality
Massive decline due to sanitation and nutrition, long before antibiotics.
Mumps Mortality
Mortality was already near zero decades before the 1967 vaccine.