Overview

• Global vaccination efforts from 2020 to 2024 averted an estimated 2.533 million deaths, equating to one life saved per 5,400 doses administered.
• Vaccines preserved 14.8 million life-years worldwide, representing one year of life saved for every 900 doses given.
• Older adults benefited most, accounting for 90% of lives saved, while 57% of prevented deaths occurred during the Omicron wave.
• Pre-exposure vaccination contributed to 82% of lives saved, underscoring the importance of early inoculation and risk-based prioritization.
• Children, adolescents and young adults saw minimal benefits, and the study’s methodological rigor and comprehensive scope set a new standard for evaluating vaccine impact.