Vaccines for the decade of the 1980s and beyond.

An increase in the average human lifespan from ancient times to the present is due mainly to control of infectious diseases, and vaccines are a keystone to their prevention. Several important new vaccines should emerge during the present decade, the most important being those against human hepatitis A and B. Disease eradication and elimination by vaccines are worthwhile targets for at least some of the more important diseases and will probably be accomplished during this century. Further increase in lifespan should be achieved by vaccination in this century but major future advances will need to come from slowing the process of ageing.