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Vaccines: A Lifesaving Public Health Tool

In a statement made on January 23, 2026, Dr. Larry Schlesinger, the President and CEO of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, voiced unwavering support for vaccines amidst discussions questioning the necessity of long-standing vaccine recommendations. He highlighted the pivotal role that vaccines play in protecting global health, asserting that the scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports established immunization schedules as one of the most powerful public health tools developed to date.

Dr. Schlesinger explained that vaccines have drastically transformed human health for over a century. The introduction of routine childhood immunizations in 1974 has saved millions of lives worldwide. He remarked on the historical dangers children faced before the widespread adoption of vaccines, stating that the success of vaccination programs has changed the narrative around childhood health. A staggering estimated 154 million children who otherwise would have succumbed to diseases before the age of five are alive today, with nearly 94 million of these lives saved through measles vaccinations alone.

One of the most compelling points made by Dr. Schlesinger was the remarkable increase in life expectancy over the 20th century - a jump from around 47 years in 1900 to nearly 77 years by 2000 in the United States. This surge in life expectancy can be directly attributed to several factors, including reduced infant and child mortality, advancements in sanitation, the use of antibiotics, along with, importantly, national vaccine programs.

Those questioning the relevance of vaccines today often cite that many vaccine-preventable diseases are now rare occurrences. Dr. Schlesinger affirmed this assertion, attributing the decline of these diseases to the effectiveness of vaccination. This success is a testament to the effectiveness of public health initiatives aimed at disease prevention.

He presented a few striking statistics to emphasize the importance of vaccines: Polio vaccination has prevented over 20 million cases of paralysis, and COVID-19 vaccines are estimated to have averted around 20 million deaths during their initial year of use.

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute has developed a comprehensive guide,