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Vaccination

Vaccines Save Lives and Dollars: CDC Estimates $540 Billion in Savings

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Over the past three decades, routine childhood immunizations have not only saved millions of lives but have also yielded significant economic benefits for the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) estimating that these vaccines have prevented approximately 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, while saving the country $540 billion in health care costs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Routine childhood vaccinations have saved the United States $540 billion in health care costs over nearly three decades, according to the C.D.C.
  • The estimated savings include money that would have been spent on treating initial infections and managing related conditions, as well as indirect economic effects such as parental care and lost workdays.
  • The total savings, including indirect costs, is estimated to be $2.7 trillion.
  • The economic benefits of childhood vaccines are on par with savings from medical breakthroughs like curing hepatitis C and major public health legislation like the Clean Air Act.
  • A recent survey found that just 40% of Americans believe it is "extremely important" for children to get vaccinated, down from about 64% in 2001, with concerns about vaccine safety largely driven by Republican respondents.
  • Growing skepticism about vaccine safety has led to a decline in vaccination rates, with nearly three-quarters of all states having MMR vaccination rates below the target rate of 95% during the 2022-23 school year.

Statistics:

  • Routine childhood vaccinations have prevented approximately 508 million cases of illness and 32 million hospitalizations from 1994 to 2023 (C.D.C.).
  • The estimated cost savings from routine childhood vaccinations is $540 billion (C.D.C.).
  • Including indirect costs, the estimated total savings is $2.7 trillion (C.D.C.).
  • Measles outbreaks have increased to 13 in 2024, up from four in 2023 ().
  • The MMR vaccination rate among students in Idaho was the lowest in the country, with just 81% of students receiving the vaccine in the 2022-23 school year ().
  • The overall MMR vaccination rate among U.S. kindergartners declined to 93% in the 2022-23 school year, down from about 95% before the pandemic ().

Sources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • University of Southern California
  • Journal article: "Vaccine hesitancy and mistrust: A systematic review"
  • Gallup
  • Boston Children's Hospital

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