In the past two decades, the number of diseases that can be prevented by vaccines has more than doubled. Here is a time line of vaccine development from 1914 to 2010.
1914: Whole-cell pertussis vaccine licensed.
1923: Diphtheria vaccine licensed.
1924: Tetanus toxoid produced.
1945: Influenza vaccine first used.
1948: Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines combined to make DTP vaccine for routine childhood immunization.
1955: Inactivated polio vaccine licensed.
1961: Monovalent oral polio vaccine licensed.
1963: Trivalent oral polio vaccine and measles vaccine licensed.
1967: Mumps vaccine licensed.
1969: Rubella vaccine licensed.
1971: Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine licensed.
1982: Hepatitis B vaccine licensed.
1985: Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine licensed.
1990: Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide conjugate vaccine licensed for infants.
1991: Acellular pertussis vaccine licensed for use in children 15 months to 6 years old.
1995: Varicella and hepatitis A vaccines licensed.
1996: Acellular pertussis vaccine licensed for use in infants.
1998: First rotavirus vaccine licensed. It was withdrawn a year later due to adverse events.
2000: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine licensed.
2003: Live attenuated influenza vaccine licensed for people age 5 to 49.
2005: Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine licensed for adolescents and adults. A new meningococcal vaccine also licensed for people age 11 to 55.
2006: Vaccines against rotavirus, the human papillomavirus and shingles licensed. A new immunization that combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella also licensed.
2008: A second rotavirus vaccine licensed.
2009: A second human papillomavirus vaccine and four vaccines against the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza virus licensed. A new high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine for people age 65 and older also licensed.
2010: A second conjugate pneumococcal vaccine licensed.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention