Incidence of infectious disease and the licensure of immunobiologics in the United States.

Background: Our objective was to investigate the relationship of vaccine or toxoid licensure with the incidence of the target disease in the United States.

Methods: We used a historical correlational study design with outcome measures of the national incidence and elimination rate of polio, pertussis, diphtheria, and measles as well as the New York City incidence and elimination rate of mumps, rubella, and tetanus.

Results: The licensure of pertussis, measles, polio, mumps, and rubella vaccine was followed by an increase in the elimination rate of disease. The elimination rates of diphtheria and tetanus apparently worsened following the licensure of the respective toxoids.

Conclusions: Historical data provide evidence of proof of efficacy of mass immunization for measles, polio, rubella, mumps, and pertussis, but not for diphtheria or tetanus.