Vaccinations as a Prophylactic Measure

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1. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR):
   • Cost of Vaccination: A single dose of the MMR vaccine costs between $20 and $40. The full series of two doses is a relatively minor expense.
   • Cost of Disease: A measles outbreak is incredibly expensive to manage. A single case of measles can trigger a public health investigation, including contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine measures. In a 2011 measles outbreak in Arizona, public health costs alone exceeded $250,000, not including hospitalization costs, which can range from $25,000 to $50,000 per case. An outbreak can quickly escalate, leading to millions of dollars in costs and significant disruption.
2. Polio:
   • Cost of Vaccination: The Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) costs approximately $20 per dose, with the full series costing around $80.
   • Cost of Disease: Before the vaccine, polio was a devastating and expensive disease. The costs of treating a single case of paralytic polio were immense, involving long-term hospitalization in an iron lung and lifelong physical therapy. The social and economic costs of permanent disability were incalculable. A return of the disease would require an extraordinary public health response and massive healthcare spending.
3. Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP):
   • Cost of Vaccination: The DTaP vaccine costs around $20 to $30 per dose.
   • Cost of Disease: Pertussis (whooping cough) outbreaks still occur and can be particularly dangerous for infants, often requiring expensive and lengthy hospitalization. A 2010 pertussis outbreak in California resulted in more than $9 million in hospitalization costs alone. Diphtheria and tetanus, while rare, would also incur significant treatment costs.

A comprehensive analysis by the CDC and the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia shows that for every $1 spent on childhood vaccinations, the United States saves between $10 and $16 in healthcare costs. The economic benefit is clear and significant.

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Recommendations to Better Disseminate Vaccinations

  Based on this analysis, the primary challenge is not the economic viability of vaccines, but their efficient and equitable distribution. To improve vaccination rates, the following three measures are recommended:

Sample Answer

       

The Economic Cost and Dissemination of Childhood Vaccinations

  The U.S. government, through the CDC, recommends a comprehensive vaccination schedule for children to prevent a wide range of infectious diseases. While the upfront cost of these vaccines may seem high, a cost-benefit analysis reveals that they are a highly effective and economically sound public health intervention. Analyzing the economic impact of three common childhood vaccines—Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), Polio, and Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)—highlights their value.

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Economic Cost Analysis of Vaccinations

  The true economic cost of a vaccination program is not just the price of the vaccine itself. It includes the cost of administering the vaccine (personnel, supplies, and clinic overhead) but, more importantly, it must be weighed against the immense costs of treating the diseases they prevent.