According to the Healthy People initiative, vaccines are among the most cost-effective clinical preventive services and are a core component of any preventive services package. Childhood immunization programs provide a very high return on investment. For example, for each birth cohort vaccinated with the routine immunization schedule (this includes DTap, Td, Hib, Polio, MMR, Hep B, and varicella vaccines), society:

• Saves 33,000 lives.

• Prevents 14 million cases of disease.

• Reduces direct health care costs by $9.9 billion.

• Saves $33.4 billion in indirect costs.

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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends preteens and teens should get one shot of Tdap at age 11 or 12 years*; 11-12 year olds should get a single shot of a meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine*; and all 11-12 year olds should get a 2-shot series of HPV vaccine. The maps below show how Arkansas preteens are doing. 

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*Required for 7th grade school entry