Monday, January 26, 2026-William H. Foege, one of the most influential public health leaders of the 20th century, has died at the age of 89 in Atlanta, where he lived and worked for decades. Foege was widely credited with developing the strategic approach known as “ring vaccination,” which became a cornerstone of the global effort to eradicate smallpox the first and only human disease ever eliminated worldwide.
He co-founded the Task Force for Global Health and served as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where his leadership helped shape modern global disease control efforts.
Foege’s ring vaccination strategy targeting those most likely to be infected and vaccinating those around them proved transformative in regions with limited vaccine supplies, dramatically reducing transmission and hastening the end of smallpox transmission.
The World Health Organization certified smallpox eradicated in 1980, a milestone public health achievement that prevented hundreds of millions of deaths worldwide and set new standards for international cooperation in disease control. He later held leadership roles at The Carter Center and contributed to expanding childhood immunization efforts globally.
Beyond smallpox, Foege’s influence extended across global health. Under his guidance, childhood immunization coverage surged in developing nations, and his work inspired generations of epidemiologists and health policymakers committed to combating infectious diseases and strengthening health systems. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was often described as a moral and visionary leader whose contributions reshaped public health practice and saved countless lives.
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