On the recordMarch 23, 2021
I rise today to introduce a bill that will help to improve adult vaccination rates throughout this country. I am thankful to Senators Capito, Whitehouse, and Scott of South Carolina for their partnership on this important legislation. Before there were vaccines, nearly everyone got measles, and diseases like whooping cough, polio, and rubella were commonplace among children and adults. Luckily for us, vaccines are now a cornerstone of our nation's disease prevention efforts. They have a demonstrated record limiting the spread of debilitating and potentially deadly conditions-- from measles to flu to pneumonia--saving lives and reducing health care costs. A successful vaccination campaign is also essential to fully reopening society and preventing future COVID-19 outbreaks. Unfortunately, adult vaccines rates are not nearly as high as they could and should be. Prior to the pandemic, more than 50,000 adults per year died from vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, while millions more became ill as a result, causing them to miss work and leaving some unable to care for those who depend on them. The health care costs associated with low adult vaccine rates are enormous--each year, the U.S. spends $15 billion treating Medicare beneficiaries alone for these vaccine-preventable diseases.…
