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Hospitalization Cost Savings Associated with COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Medicare Beneficiaries in Early 2021

Publication Date
Authors
Wafa Tarazi, Lok Wong Samson, Steven Sheingold, Nancy De Lew, and Benjamin D. Sommers

Using Medicare FFS claims data and county-level vaccination rates, we estimate savings of about $2.6 billion from reduced Medicare hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 vaccinations in early 2021. These cost savings reflect 107,000 fewer Medicare (FFS and Medicare Advantage) COVID-19 hospitalizations during this period, compared to projections if no COVID-19 vaccines were available during that period. Hospitalization cost savings from this early vaccination period were nearly large enough to offset the cost for approximately 67.7 million single-dose COVID-19 vaccines, or 31.2 million two-dose series, assuming an average cost of $40 per dose.

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