Vaccines have a history dating back more than 200 years ago when Edward
Jenner created the 1st vaccine in 1796 to battle a once very common and
deadly disease, smallpox. Since then vaccines have been a continued
effort to prevent/combat diseases and have saved countless lives. Some
diseases have been eliminated or were never endemic in the United
States. Some of the diseases have vaccines developed for them, but are
not part of the routine recommended immunization schedule. In other
countries, these diseases still exist or are endemic.