Global analysis finds 14.8 million life-years added by COVID-19 vaccinations
A Stanford University-led investigation into the COVID-19 vaccination effort reports that it averted an estimated 2.533 million deaths and 14.8 million life-years worldwide between 2020 and 2024. Amidst much…
From the Biotech Insider archive. This article dates from Jul 29, 2025 and is preserved as first published.
A Stanford University-led investigation into the COVID-19 vaccination effort reports that it averted an estimated 2.533 million deaths and 14.8 million life-years worldwide between 2020 and 2024.
Amidst much controversy in the public sphere, a worldwide vaccination campaign took place to counter the novel and deadly COVID-19 virus as it spread to every corner of the globe. As the pandemic spread, so did misinformation, disinformation, and real-time updates on risk and prevention that occasionally changed as events unfolded.
Around 7 million people died as a direct result of the virus. Estimating the human toll prevented by vaccines remains a crucial question, both for public education and for future public health planning.
In the study, “Global Estimates of Lives and Life-Years Saved by COVID-19 Vaccination During 2020-2024,” published in JAMA Health Forum, researchers conducted a comparative-effectiveness analysis to quantify life-saving effects attributable to vaccination from December 2020 through October 1, 2024.
Nearly 8 billion individuals (the 2021 world population) served as the study cohort, partitioned by seven age tiers: community versus long-term-care residence, and pre-omicron versus omicron periods.
Investigators estimated deaths averted by multiplying stratum-specific population, projected infection proportion, infection fatality rate, and vaccine effectiveness; life-year gains combined those results with life expectancy and a health-status adjustment factor.
Findings show 2.533 million lives saved, equating to one death averted per 5,400 vaccine doses. Life-year gains reached 14.8 million, or one life-year per 900 doses.
About 82% of deaths averted occurred among individuals vaccinated before any infection and 57% during the omicron period. Persons aged 60 years or older accounted for 89.6% of lives saved, with children and adolescents contributing just 0.01%. Sensitivity analyses yielded a range of 1.4–4.0 million deaths and 7.4–23.6 million life-years saved.
About 82% of deaths averted occurred among individuals vaccinated before any infection and 57% during the omicron period.
Life-year benefits tracked a similar age gradient with individuals over 60 making up 76% of the total years saved, with negligible contributions (<0.5 %) from those under 30. Long‑term‑care residents, who accounted for 11.8 % of deaths averted, only added 2% to life‑years saved.
Authors conclude that vaccination offered a clear mortality benefit during 2020–2024, largely among older adults, and describe their estimates as conservative.
