Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have explored the health and economic benefits of routine childhood vaccination during the 1994 – 2023 period of the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in the United States.
The study is published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . Report: Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the Vaccines for Children Program — United States, 1994–2023 Background Immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases is the key to improving health conditions, reducing mortality, and controlling economic burdens. Widespread availability and accessibility to vaccines have significantly reduced global morbidity and mortality.
The U.S. Congress established the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program in 1994 in response to a measles outbreak in 1989.
The program covers vaccination costs for uninsured, underinsured, and other eligible children. In 2023, approximately 54% of children were eligible for vaccination through the program. Since 1994, the VFC program has covered vaccines targeting nine diseases for eligible children aged six years or below.
Vaccines targeting seven additional diseases have been included in the program from 1996 to 2023. However, it is important to note that certain vaccines, such as influenza, COVID-19, and RSV, were excluded from this analysis due to differences in assessment methods or recent implementation. In this study, scientists have as.