WHAT THE DATA SHOWS

Digital health advertising campaigns and their impact

Americans increasingly look online for guidance on symptoms, treatments and wellness. Digital advertising is one of the pathways that leads them to trustworthy resources and it reaches communities traditional outreach has long missed.

A snapshot of the evidence

Four results from federal campaigns run by the CDC, FDA, and HHS. Explore the full set of campaigns across ten health areas in the interactive tool below.

CDC · Tips From Former Smokers

129,000

early deaths prevented between 2012 and 2018, saving about $7.3 billion in healthcare and related costs.Source: CDC, Tips From Former Smokers campaign impact and results

HHS · We Can Do This

51,000

lives saved in the COVID-19 vaccine campaign's first year, with nearly 244,000 fewer hospitalizations and about $90 in healthcare savings per dollar spent.Source: Turner et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2024)

FDA · The Real Cost

$180per $1

in reduced healthcare costs in the youth tobacco prevention campaign's first two years. It also kept an estimated 450,000 young people from starting e-cigarettes in 2023–2024.Sources: FDA (2025); MacMonegle et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2025)

HHS · We Can Do This

30% → 80%

vaccination among Black participants: 30% had received a first dose when the campaign began, and nearly 80% were vaccinated by its end, helping narrow health disparities.Source: Luchman, Health Promotion Practice (2023)

Below are campaigns run by federal agencies, leading nonprofits and medical associations, and what they show about the impact of digital health advertising on public health and equity. Adding data improves who a campaign reaches: it puts the message in front of the people it applies to.

HOW TO USE

Pick a category or search all findings. Every figure links to the study, agency page or evaluation behind it:

Find the evidence for your area