Routine childhood vaccinations have benefitted the public immensely over the past three decades, in both economic and health terms, according to a new analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report assesses the effects of nine routine childhood immunizations in children born from 1994 through 2023. The timeframe reflects the 1994 establishment by Congress of the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines at no cost for children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford the immunizations.
The results, factoring in children who were and were not eligible for that program, are staggering. From the report:
“Among approximately 117 million children born during 1994–2023, routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented approximately 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, at a net savings of $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs. From both payer and societal perspectives, routine childhood vaccinations among children born during 1994–2023 resulted in substantial cost savings. Childhood immunizations continue to provide substantial health and economic benefits, while promoting health equity.”
