Vaccination isn’t just for kids — adult immunization is a powerful tool to protect health, reduce costs and boost productivity.
Most of us remember standing in line at school for vaccinations, rolling up our sleeves and barely giving it a second thought. As kids, vaccines were routine—ensuring we were protected from preventable illnesses. But as adults, vaccination often falls off our radar.
The reality? Vaccine-preventable illnesses don’t stop with childhood. Illnesses don’t care how old you are, and they continue to pose serious health risks into adulthood.
That’s why investing in adult vaccination matters. It’s not just about personal protection—it’s about reducing the burden on the health care system and supporting healthier communities and workplaces. Prioritizing adult immunization is a cost-effective way to strengthen the economy.
Vaccines deliver measurable value and savings
A report commissioned by Praxus Health on behalf of the Adult Vaccine Alliance (AVA) and prepared by IQVIA Canada highlights the economic and health care benefits of increasing adult vaccination rates.
An analysis of six key adult vaccines—COVID-19, influenza, HPV, pneumococcal, RSV and recombinant zoster—demonstrates the significant value of immunization across the country. By reducing illness, preventing hospital stays and helping people remain active in their communities and workplaces, these 6 vaccines offer measurable benefits. The findings are clear: adult vaccines deliver $2.5 billion in value to the Canadian health care system and economy. Of that, $1.9 billion reflects the productivity benefits tied to adult vaccination, while $514 million helps ease the burden on Canada’s strained health care system. Beyond dollars, vaccines prevent 17,000 hospitalizations, avoid 3,100 premature deaths and free up 57,000 hours of physician time—time that can be used for other critical care. Every dollar spent on adult vaccines returns $3.41, more than three times the initial investment.
A healthier workforce benefits everyone
Prioritizing adult vaccinations goes beyond individual health—it strengthens our workforce and economy. Given how much time people spend at their workplace, employers can play a key role by including vaccines in benefits plans, raising awareness and offering workplace vaccination programs.
The report highlights that vaccines prevent 12 million hours of missed work each year by keeping employees healthier. Including vaccines in your benefits plan adds real value—it helps prevent illness, supports employee well-being and delivers a strong return on investment for employers at a low cost. Vaccine coverage usually only accounts for 0.5 to 1 per cent of health insurance premiums, yet only 61 per cent of Canadian benefits plans include vaccination coverage. Adding vaccination coverage to your benefits plan is a small change that can make a big difference.
Vaccine-preventable diseases are common in adults and can disrupt the workplace significantly. By encouraging vaccination, employers can help reduce sick days, prevent outbreaks and keep teams productive. When employees are protected, they’re not only less likely to miss work, but they’re also able to perform at their best.
Expanding access to vaccines
With busy lives, it’s easy to overlook vaccination—especially when the costs fall on individuals. Unlike childhood immunizations, adult vaccines often come with out-of-pocket expenses that create unnecessary barriers.
Increasing public funding for adult vaccines can be the key to making protection accessible, where fewer people are forced to choose between their health and their budget. It would mean more Canadians protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, fewer hospital visits and less strain on emergency rooms.
Taking action
Getting involved doesn’t have to be complicated. The Employer Health Prevention Centre is a one-stop resource for vaccination information, offering tools to foster healthier workplaces and increase awareness about the importance of vaccination.
Visit the Employer Health Prevention Centre to access valuable resources, learn how to promote vaccination in your workplace and help to build a healthier community.
To dive deeper into the broader impact of adult immunization, visit the Adult Vaccine Alliance (AVA) website, which offers insights into how vaccines protect not just individual health but also our economy and health care system. In a time when every dose counts, these resources help transform awareness into action.
To learn more, visit employerhealth.ca.
