Examining the health and financial toll of falling vaccine rates

With alarmingly low childhood vaccination rates coming to light, it’s a good time to take a look at some of the issues driving this worrying trend. And while much of the recent dialogue has centered on COVID-19 vaccinations, the pandemic has had a massive effect on all types of immunizations, including those you probably had as a kid.

A concerning trajectory

According to data from UNICEF and The World Health Organization, we are currently seeing the highest number of children in three decades who haven’t completed, or even started, their vaccinations. These agencies expected to see a decline during the height of COVID-19, but they also anticipated a return to previous rates as the pandemic receded.

Unfortunately, that’s not happening. According to the report, there are now 25 million children worldwide at risk of contracting serious, preventable diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

On top of the public health risk, there is the high financial cost of treating vaccine-preventable diseases. The U.S. spends billions of dollars annually to treat adults for diseases that could have been prevented by immunization. The CDC estimates that U.S. children born between 1994 and 2013 who are fully vaccinated will prevent 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths. That’s a savings of $1.38 trillion in total costs to society during those children’s lifetimes.

Combating misinformation

Immunization has had its detractors since it was invented, possibly more since COVID-19. Today, the disinformation machine is even more powerful, running 24/7 on social media platforms, whose companies use algorithms to serve up information that matches our preferences and preexisting opinions.

Added to the intentional spread of misinformation, there is some hesitancy based on a vaccine’s effectiveness. Because many vaccine-preventable diseases seem to have been effectively eradicated, many don’t realize how deadly they can be.

A cooperative approach

There is no quick fix to the current situation. It will require cooperation and funding at federal, state, county and local levels to identify and educate communities with low vaccination rates on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Today’s immunization registries aren’t enough — in part due to varying reporting requirements and disparate systems. We need a standardized, data-driven and interoperable approach to support cross-sector collaboration and promote access to immunization in our communities.

Providers are the most trusted source of immunization information; they must be armed with community-appropriate health education materials to counter hesitancy. Schools need to be involved, checking vaccine status and filling gaps during well-child visits and school physicals. And, like providers, they must be ready to help parents understand the importance of immunizations.

Vaccines are among the most important and effective public health tools we have. It is imperative that stakeholders across the health and human services ecosystem work together to change misperceptions, facilitate access and protect our communities.

To learn more about the work Gainwell Technologies is doing to create healthier communities through immunizations, access our Immunization Info Sheet.

Tonya Philbrick-Labbe is a senior product manager at Gainwell Technologies with 23 years of experience in immunization and public health. As a progressive healthcare leader, Tonya provides visionary leadership and extensive experience in operations, team building and prioritization to push public health initiatives beyond the status quo.

Gainwell Technologies is the leading provider of technology solutions that are vital to the administration and operations of health and human services programs. With more than 50 years of proven experience, Gainwell has a reputation for service excellence and unparalleled industry expertise. Learn more at gainwelltechnologies.com.