“Millions of American adults go without routine and recommended vaccinations each year, which leads to an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 preventable deaths, thousands of preventable illnesses, and $10 billion in preventable health care costs each year” according to the report.
Structural barriers include fragmented insurance coverage for preventative care and vaccinations. The costs of some vaccines can be a disincentive, particularly in the case of HPV. Access to adult vaccines is limited by the lack of institutional or other established mechanisms to schedule and track adult vaccinations. The uninsured lack access altogether. A limited market along with long lead times and expense for R&D and regulatory approval discourages investment in adult vaccines.
Misunderstanding and misinformation, especially as impacts public perceptions of H1N1 vaccine safety, is a pervasive problem.