Eradicated diseases make a comeback through reinfection and waning immunity
Evidence strongly supports the claim that eradicated or heavily controlled diseases can make a comeback due to a combination of declining vaccination coverage and waning immunity over time.
The retrieved papers consistently demonstrate that previously eliminated or well-controlled vaccine-preventable diseases (such as measles, pertussis, and mumps) experience resurgences and outbreaks. These events are repeatedly attributed in the literature to declining vaccination rates and waning vaccine-derived immunity, supporting the claim entirely.
Kiang MV, Bubar KM, Maldonado Y, Hotez PJ, Lo NC. Modeling Reemergence of Vaccine-Eliminated Infectious Diseases Under Declining Vaccination in the US.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.6495
The study demonstrates that declining vaccination rates risk the reemergence and return to endemicity of previously eliminated infectious diseases.
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Biswas R, Roy A, Kayal T, Basu S, Ghosh S, Ramaiah S, Anbarasu A. Waning immunity and the future of booster vaccination strategies in global vaccine programs post COVID-19.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2026.2626088
Waning immunity is identified as a major global concern for vaccine programs, reducing efficacy across multiple diseases over time.
Naomi Dreisinger, Czer Anthoney Lim. Resurgence of Vaccine-Preventable Disease. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1097/pec.0000000000001917
The resurgence of childhood illnesses once thought to be eradicated is linked to decreased vaccination rates and related factors.
Centrone F, Melilli R, Colella V, Latela A, Marziani A, Lattarulo S, Ostuni A, Sallustio A, Chironna M. Immunity gap for measles in young adults: Seroprevalence study in blood donors in southern Italy.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2026.2634496
Research notes an increased vulnerability to measles and waning vaccine-derived immunity among young adults following the pandemic.
Han W, Kimm H, Yang YS, Kwon JW, Son E. Sudden pertussis outbreaks in Guro-gu, Seoul: epidemiological characteristics and contributing factors in 2024.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2025.058
Outbreaks of pertussis in vaccinated populations suggest that waning immunity contributes to disease resurgence.
Lin FT, Yang CH, Cheng WY, Chang JY. Taiwan's Strategy Toward Measles Elimination.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines14040361
Sustaining measles elimination faces increasing challenges due to global resurgence and waning vaccine-induced immunity.
Domínguez A, Soldevila N, Toledo D, Casas I, Aldea M, Prat A, Bartolomé R, Borràs E, Godoy P. Serological Mumps Evaluation of Medical Students in Catalonia (Spain): Is a Third Dose of Vaccine Needed?. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.70920
Declining seropositivity over time since the last vaccine dose indicates that waning immunity affects long-term protection against mumps.
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