Vaccines work: Case counts of 6 vaccine-preventable diseases before and after routine vaccination

Comparison of case count for 6 vaccine-preventable diseases before and after introducing each vaccine
Disease Cases then Cases now Decrease
Whooping cough 17,777 2,340 87%
Mumps 36,101 737 98%
Measles 53,584 37 More than 99%
Diphtheria 8,142 5 More than 99%
Rubella 14,974 1 More than 99%
Polio 2,545 0 100%

Definitions:

Cases then: Average number of cases reported annually in Canada during the:

  • 5 years before routine vaccine use or
  • closest possible 5 years where stable reporting was occurring

Cases now: Average number of cases reported annually in Canada from 2016 to 2020.

Some numbers are subject to change as reports are updated. For details about the data sources and methods, refer to vaccines and immunization.

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