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This may be true for some diseases, but certainly not for all. For example, polio outbrake had a peak in the 1940s and 1950s. It would paralyze or kill over half a million people worldwide every year. World had better hygiene, water purification, etc. at the time. [1] Vaccination may not be only, nor the main cause of the decrease in infectious diseases over the last century. In fact, more important changes on a global scale are improved personal hygiene, water purification, effective sewage disposal, and better food hygiene and nutrition. Mortality for many childhood diseases fell drastically even before immunization became available. [2] But if people voluntarily get vaccinated because they are afraid of future epidemics, why should I get vaccinated if I am not afraid? Neither am I afraid, nor do I pose a threat to those who are vaccinated, as they will be immune even if I get infected by a disease. [3] Vaccination programs have saved millions of people from deaths that would be caused by infectious diseases such as smallpox, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella.

While individuals could lead their lives isolated and avoid getting infected in times of epidemic, most people live within societies and in constant contact with other people. This is why vaccination is necessary to prevent infectious disease outbreaks. [4][5]Is vaccination necessary?