HEALTH AND WELLNESS
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026 | 17
Over the course of the twentieth century, great strides were made in relation to diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. That work has continued into the twentyfirst century, as the organization Voices for Vaccines notes that vaccines prevent more diseases now than they did even as recently as 30 years ago.
Despite the efficacy of vaccines, skepticism about them has been on the rise in recent years. According to the independent, nonpartisan policy institute the Center for American Progress, since the 2019-2020 school year, kindergarten vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella( MMR) have fallen below the 95 % threshold required to maintain herd immunity. The herd immunity rate refers to the percentage of the population that must be immunized to prevent disease transmission.
The reduced rate of MMR vaccination among kindergarten students is thus increasing their risk for MMR. Indeed, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 39 of the 50 states are now below the 95 % herd immunity rate for measles.
The data noted by the Center for
American Progress and the KFF is troubling and suggests the public may have a lot to gain from a refresher course on the numerous benefits of immunization.
Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the last half century
A 2024 study published in The Lancet estimated that vaccines saved 154 million lives across the globe between 1974 and 2024.
Researchers behind the study also noted that 95 % of the lives saved during that 50-year period were children younger than five years old.
Vaccines have a lasting effect
A 2024 report from researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that 117 million children were born in the United States between 1994 and 2023.
\ The researchers behind the report estimated that over the lifetimes of those children, routine vaccinations would prevent 508 million cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and one million deaths.
Vaccines save money Parents need not be reminded of the medical costs associated with children ' s health care. Vaccines can greatly reduce such costs, offering a net savings of $ 540 billion in direct costs according to the 2024 report from the CDC.
A separate report published in the journal Pediatrics in 2014 estimated that every dollar spent on childhood vaccination saves $ 3 in direct medical care.
Vaccines are thoroughly vetted prior to being approved
Voices for Vaccines notes that vaccines are among the most tested medical interventions in the world.
Vaccines are subjected to a rigorous, multi-phased testing process, which includes three separate phases of clinical development involving human beings, before they can even be submitted to the Federal Drug Administration for regulatory review and approval.
Vaccine skepticism has risen in recent years
Immunization remains a vital component of public health and a highly effective way to reduce illnesses and diseases in the present and for years to come.