Which of the following diseases is NOT included in the initial list of vaccine-preventable diseases?

The initial list of vaccine-preventable diseases typically refers to those diseases that were included in the early vaccination programs and public health initiatives aimed at reducing infectious diseases. Hepatitis B was not part of the original vaccine-preventable disease list that was established in the mid-20th century, when vaccines for diseases like tetanus, polio, and diphtheria were first widely introduced.

Tetanus, polio, and diphtheria are all diseases for which vaccines have been available and widely used since the mid-1900s, making them part of the foundational immunization efforts. Hepatitis B vaccines were developed later and became a standard part of routine vaccination schedules starting in 1981, reflecting its inclusion in public health strategies that evolved as new vaccines were developed. Understanding this historical context helps clarify why Hepatitis B stands out as being excluded from the original list of vaccine-preventable diseases.