Measuring the Benefits of Mass Vaccination Programs in
the United States: Since the late 1940s, mass vaccination
programs in the USA have contributed to the significantly reduced morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases.
To assist the evaluation of the benefits of mass vaccination programs, the number of individuals who would
have suffered death or permanent disability in the USA
in 2014, had mass vaccination never been implemented,
was estimated for measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b
(Hib), hepatitis B, varicella, and human papillomavirus
(HPV). The estimates accounted for mortality and morbidity trends observed for these infections prior to mass
vaccination and the impact of advances in standard of
living and health care. The estimates also considered populations with and without known factors leading to an
elevated risk of permanent injury from infection. Mass
vaccination prevented an estimated 20 million infections
and 12,000 deaths and permanent disabilities