Childhood Immunizations

Vaccines are one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  They have reduced or eliminated many infectious diseases, such as smallpox and polio, and are credited with saving millions of lives and preventing hundreds of millions of cases of disease. States determine many immunization policies, including child care and school requirements, financing and registries.

According to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, every $1 spent on immunizations saves $16 in avoided costs, but vaccines are not cheap. The federal contract price for all vaccines recommended to age 18 increased from $45 in 1985 to $1,105 for males and $1,407 for females in 2008 for programs that receive immunization grants. Pushing up costs were new vaccines and inflation.