Misinformation about COVID-19 Vaccines Cost the United States $2 Billion from Hospitalizations in 2021

Abstract Introduction Misinformation is a major public health threat, as it leads to unnecessary illnesses, deaths, and costs to society. In 2021, misinformation was rampant for COVID-19 vaccines, where a large portion of the US population believed in vaccine misinformation and refused vaccination. Methods This study utilized a microsimulation model of COVID-19 vaccination, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to estimate the cost of vaccine hesitancy that was fueled by misinformation in the US. The analysis compares a baseline model with scenarios where misinformation was removed. Results Misinformation was estimated to contribute to nearly 2.3 (2.04-2.5) million cases and 66,000 (59,300-72,500) hospitalizations in 2021. Misinformation resulted in $2 ($1.79-2.33) billion in extra costs of hospitalization and 45,000 (40,800-50,000) avertable deaths. Misinformation on vaccine hesitancy cost up to $229 ($226-231) million in California, $173 ($171-175) million in Texas, $171 ($169-173) million in Florida, and $144 ($143-146) million in New York in 2021. Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Alaska faced the highest ($10-14) per person costs of misinformation. Conclusions While the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, misinformation remains. Combating misinformation on a large scale and building trust in institutions and science is essential to prevent unnecessary costs and improve population health.