Pediatric Collections: Immunization Strategies and Practices

Immunizations are a cornerstone of pediatric healthcare. The introduction of immunizations for the prevention of life-threatening infections was an important driver of improvements in infant and childhood morbidity and mortality in the 20th century. Modeling of vaccine impact demonstrates that routine childhood immunizations in the 2009 US birth cohort would prevent approximately 42,000 deaths, 20 million cases of disease, and save $13.5 billion in direct health care costs and $68.8 billion in societal costs. Paradoxically, the reduction or elimination of vaccine preventable infections in the United States has been postulated to be a factor associated with an increase in vaccine hesitancy in the 21st century. Parents who have not experienced vaccine-preventable infection may not be able to accurately assess the risk of these infections pose to the health of their children.