It’s time to start thinking about getting an immunization!
Adults with children are urged to beat the back to school immunization rush.
Immunization among all populations in the United States is one of the most cost-effective means of preventing diseases.
Across the country, approximately 42,000 adults and 300 children die each year from a vaccine-preventable disease.
To spread the word about the importance of immunizations and encourage action to improve immunization rates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is rolling out new information throughout this season
Benefits for Immunizations:
Immunizations are important for a variety of reasons. By receiving an immunization for a disease, a person defends against catching that disease.
The benefits do not stop there. Society gains a collective immunization as more people become immune to a particular disease.
Once a collective immunization has been established, once-dangerous diseases can be eradicated.
Polio, for example, was eliminated in the United States in 1979 after vaccinations became widespread. The CDC estimates 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths will be avoided among children born in the last 20 years as a result of vaccines.
By protecting against diseases with immunizations, billions of dollars could be saved. Over the last 20 years, the CDC estimates vaccinations will save nearly $295 billion in direct costs and $1.38 trillion in total costs to society.
Childhood vaccines alone are projected to save $13.5 billion in direct costs and $68.8 billion in total societal costs for all children born in a particular year.
Vaccines are recommended throughout a person’s lifetime, with specific immunizations associated with different age groups such as infants, young children, preteens, adults, and older adults.
