Table 5 Cost-benefit analyses of vaccination programs in the general population

Country

Denmark

Canada

Finland

Israel

Year

1991

1998

1979

1990

WB income group

High

High

High

High

Comparators

1. Vaccinate 15-month and 12-yr-olds

1. 1-dose child vaccination campaign

1. Vaccinate 13-yr-olds & post-partum women

1. Vaccinate children from 1 – 12 years

2. Vaccinate only 15-month-olds

2. 2-dose child vaccination campaign

2. Vaccinate 13-yr-olds & 1-yr-olds

2. Vaccinate only 12-yr-olds (routine)

3. 1-dose child vaccination

3. Vaccinate only 1-yr-olds over 20 years

4. 2-dose child vaccination

Perspective

Societal*

Societal*

Societal*

NR

Cost components measured

OP visits; prescriptions; hospitalizations; vaccines

OP visits; hospitalizations; laboratory tests; nursing home care; special education; indirect costs (lost productivity for illness, disability and premature death)

Fetal loss; fetal damage; annual costs; long-term costs

Vaccine; vaccination side effects; serology; OP visits; hospitalizations; hearing aids; mothers’ work loss;

Method of cost estimation

Micro-costing

Micro-costing; Lifetime earnings (for indirect costs)

Top-down costing based on Delphi panel

Micro-costing

Method of benefits estimation

Averted costs

Averted costs

Averted costs

Averted costs

Time period for costs and benefits

20 years

Lifetime

30 years

13 years

Discounting (Rate)

NR

Yes (5%)

Yes (6%)

Yes (5 and 10%)

Results—Benefit-cost ratio

1. 3

1. 2.6

1. 10

1. 1.1

2. 2

2. 2.9

2. 3

2. 1.8

3. 3.6

3. 6

4. 4.3

Stated conclusion

Vaccinating both age groups is preferable

The benefits of a second dose outweigh the costs

Vaccinating 13-yr-old girls and postpartum women was preferable

Vaccinating infants and adolescent girls is preferable

Sponsor

NR

LCDC

NR

NR