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Vaccines have delivered enormous benefits for public health over several decades. But how many lives have they actually saved? Recent research led by the World Health Organization looked back at 50 years of data to model the impact of vaccination against 14 of the most important vaccine-preventable diseases.
The study estimates vaccines have saved a whopping 154 million lives since 1974, mostly young children. A child aged under ten has about a 40% greater chance of living until their next birthday, compared to if we didn’t have vaccines.
Our editorial web developer Matt Garrow has worked with epidemiologists Meru Sheel and Alexandra Hogan to bring you five charts setting out some of the key findings of this study. They show what a success vaccines have been over the past half century – and according to Sheel and Hogan, are a timely reminder that we need to continue to prioritise vaccination.
And speaking of numbers, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveils the federal budget tonight, we’ll bring you a special package analysing all the key announcements. Look out for our special newsletter this evening, with more coverage to come throughout the week from our political and economics experts.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has given to our donations campaign so far. If you value our unique brand of expert news analysis, please consider becoming a donor.
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Phoebe Roth
Deputy Health Editor
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Meru Sheel, University of Sydney; Alexandra Hogan, UNSW Sydney
The chance of living one more year is up to 44% more likely thanks to the past 50 years of vaccines, according to new research. But global drops in vaccine coverage pose a risk.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Tuesday’s budget will show there has been an improvement of $10.5 billion in the bottom line. The update forecasted a deficit of $1.1 billion for 2023-24.
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Yasir Arafat, Edith Cowan University; Daryoush Habibi, Edith Cowan University
Allowing our spent lithium batteries to be exported free of charge could mean forfeiting a potential $3 billion onshore reprocessing industry.
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Wellett Potter, University of New England
With the click of a button, you can now generate songs in any topic and genre you want. But it’s not clear-cut whether you own the music, despite what the app terms say.
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Anabela Malpique, Edith Cowan University; Deborah Pino Pasternak, University of Canberra; Susan Ledger, University of Newcastle
It is easy to assume students will be able to write easily and effectively using a keyboard. They are growing up surrounded by technology. But new research shows children write better by hand.
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Liam Byrne, The University of Melbourne; Emma Shortis, RMIT University
There are many parallels between 1968 and today: an unpopular war, a vulnerable Democratic presidential candidate and a divided America.
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Aaron Teo, University of Southern Queensland
ABC comedy series White Fever highlights a type of racism that is nuanced and hard to detect, but is just as harmful to people of colour.
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Chrissy Severinsen, Massey University; Angelique Reweti, Massey University; Mary Breheny, Massey University
New mothers can experience anxiety and depression. But rushed appointments and impersonal checklists leave many fearful of being judged inadequate or unfit if they admit to struggling.
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Kevin John Brophy, The University of Melbourne
Where Brooklyn was a book of suspended decisions and relentlessly increasing pressure, Long Island lets off its explosive at the very beginning.
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Timothy Schmidt, UNSW Sydney
The electric rainbow of the aurora happens when excited atoms relax via ‘forbidden transitions’.
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Politics + Society
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Annette Greenhow, Bond University
Several high-profile athletes with concussion histories have been forced to retire on medical advice. But what’s the process that guides them to that difficult decision?
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Jodi Gardner, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Thousands of New Zealanders live with so-called ‘fuel poverty’ because they can’t afford their electricity bill. A government ‘social tariff’ would be one way to keep homes warm.
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Catherine Ordway, University of Canberra; Ginger Gorman, University of Canberra
As Australia grapples with a violence against women crisis, major sporting codes are tinkering around the edges of the problem, and plenty more can be done.
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Health + Medicine
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Anthony Scott, Monash University
Making the wrong decision about how to access care can impact both your health and finances. So what are your options? And what policy reforms are needed to improve affordable access to health care?
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Environment + Energy
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Sean Buckley, Edith Cowan University; Luciano Beheregaray, Flinders University
Reintroducing locally extinct species is a challenging affair, but with the right partnerships everyone can help make it happen.
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Arts + Culture
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Jess Carniel, University of Southern Queensland
Next year will mark the 69th edition of the contest. But the highly charged nature of this year’s event has left many question its future.
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Melbourne VIC, Australia
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