A global study conducted with over 14,000 participants across 12 countries, including the UK, US, China, Brazil, and Uganda, explores public attitudes towards saving lives versus saving life-years in healthcare. Participants were asked to choose between vaccinating a 55-year-old with about 30 years left to live or one or more 75-year-olds with about 10 years each. While about two-thirds favored the younger individual, the findings revealed that people were only willing to trade approximately two and a half older lives for one younger life, indicating a more complex decision-making process than merely maximizing life-years. Employment status also influenced choices significantly, with respondents showing a preference for younger individuals who were employed over older individuals who were not. This suggests that public values incorporate fairness and social contributions, raising questions about the alignment of healthcare policies with societal preferences. The study highlights the need for healthcare decision-makers to consider public opinions and incorporate discussions that balance efficiency with fairness, as ignoring these values may undermine trust in healthcare systems.