Vaccines
Vaccines Play a Critical Role in Helping Prevent Some of the Most Dangerous Illnesses
Over the last 30 years in the U.S., childhood vaccines have prevented more than one million early deaths and saved $2.7 trillion. From saving lives to promoting healthy aging, vaccines play an important role in building a healthier future for Americans.
Different vaccines offer varying types of protection depending on the disease
Not all vaccines work the same, but they all serve a common purpose: to protect against infections. Vaccines train the immune system to recognize and respond to harmful pathogens before they make people sick. Some vaccines prevent individuals from contracting or transmitting a specific disease, while others decrease the severity and impact of a disease.
Vaccines have delivered some of the greatest health victories in history
Vaccines have reduced the severity and toll of many diseases.
Eliminating Polio
Polio has been eliminated in the U.S. since the introduction of the vaccine in 1955.
Reducing HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has led to decreased HPV infections and pre-cancers by 88% in teens girls and 81% in young adult women.
Preventing Measles
One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles, and the second dose increases effectiveness to 97%.
Preventing Influenza
Flu vaccination prevented 7.1 million cases and 7,100 deaths between 2019-2020.
Vaccines Help Leave Serious Diseases in the Past
Diseases |
Annual Morbidity(20th Century) |
Reported Cases(2024) |
Percent Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Diphtheria |
21,053 |
1 |
99% |
|
Smallpox |
29,005 |
0 |
100% |
|
Measles |
530,217 |
266 |
> 99% |
|
Mumps |
162,344 |
358 |
> 99% |
|
Rubella |
47,745 |
9 |
> 99% |
|
Polio |
16,316 |
0 |
100% |
|
Tetanus |
580 |
32 |
94% |
U.S. leadership in vaccine innovation benefits Americans
Health Benefits
Childhood vaccines prevent 21 diseases in the United States, saving millions of lives and reducing hospitalizations nationwide.
Security Benefits
Development of vaccines in the U.S. strengthens U.S. health security, enabling rapid responses like the COVID-19 rollout that saved millions of lives.
Health System
Vaccines drive significant savings for the health care system, with childhood vaccines saving $2.7 trillion from 1994-2023.
Manufacturing Footprint
U.S.-based facilities ensure reliable vaccine production, protecting the health of Americans and ensuring biopharmaceutical leadership.
We talk about how we have a health care system—in many ways, we have a sickness system. We really need to shift the focus to what we can do to prevent disease and also modulate disease to help people live healthier, longer lives."
Dr. Len Friedland
Vice President and Director of Scientific Affairs and Public Health at GSK
Developing a new vaccine is a lengthy, challenging and expensive process, largely driven by the biopharmaceutical industry
New vaccine development requires large-scale clinical trials, and total development costs can exceed $1 billion.
The Vaccine Lifecycle
Vaccines undergo years of rigorous clinical trials with thousands of volunteers to ensure safety and effectiveness. Once approved, biopharmaceutical companies, FDA and CDC continuously monitor their safety and effectiveness.
The Innovation Ecosystem
For Americans to benefit from vaccination, we need to continue to support robust, safe and effective vaccines.
Our Work in Action
To maintain America’s global leadership, we need to support the next generation of innovation in medicine.
