So this recent science news is getting a "vaccine news" look. What Effect has vaccination had? This answer is taken from Harrison's Internal Medicine, 2008, p767. (by Keusch, Bart, Miller) WHO, the World Health Organization, cites immunization and clean water as two public health interventions with most impact on world health. The World Bank notes that immunization is among the most cost-effective public health measures. We eradicated smallpox and we dropped routine smallpox shots. Yet recently we have wondered if smallpox could be used for bioterrorism. Immunization has eliminated naturally transmitted poliomyelitis from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and the western Pacific. Once virtually every child got measles, but now it is largely eliminated from the Western Hemisphere. In the US we have virtual elimination of rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, neonatal tetanus, and diphtheria. Hemophilus influenza type B, called Hib, shots have all but eliminated invasive Hib meningitis and pneumonia among those under age 5. Vaccine has cut varicella by about 75% in high-coverage areas. “In short, vaccines work.” Yet there is a certain doubt in the public mind about how many, how often, are needed. Over 50 vaccines are licensed in the US, with more coming all the time. There is a relatively new human papilloma virus vaccine, and one that will fight herpes zoster.There is public pressure to make ill-informed vaccine laws. In part it is the sheer success of vaccination that is part of the problem: who except the aging, like me, have seen tetanus, diphtheria, polio, or measles? Speaking of my aging and doing things to boost your immune system, I ran 5 miles in 10 minutes per mile this morning before the sun came up. If I'd had the sense to sleep in, I might have run even faster.