Immunizations and the Affordable Care Act

Immunizations, which some consider to be a cornerstone of public health, are cited as a cost-effective investment—every $1 spent on immunizations saves $16 in avoided costs, according to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Successful immunization programs demonstrate high vaccine coverage rates and low incidence of disease. Vaccines have helped to greatly reduce or eliminate the presence of many infectious diseases in the United States. Recent outbreaks of pertussis—commonly known as whooping cough—across the nation serve as a reminder that vaccines still play an important role in preventing disease. In 2010, pertussis claimed the lives of 10 California infants, and the 8,383 cases reported in the state were the highest in more than 60 years.

The federal government has long promoted and funded immunizations as a key public health tool. The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in March 2010, contains several new immunization-related provisions that emphasize prevention and public health efforts to increase immunization rates for both children and adults.