Cost-benefit analysis of a nationwide neonatal inoculation programme against hepatitis B in an area of intermediate endemicity.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to estimate the costs and benefits of a nationwide neonatal vaccination campaign against hepatitis B in Israel for the 1990-2034 period.


METHODS
Using morbidity, mortality, utilisation, and cost data from Israeli and international sources, a spreadsheet model was constructed to carry out the cost-benefit analysis.


METHODS
The entire State of Israel, an area of intermediate endemicity.


METHODS
The population of Israel from 1990-2034.


RESULTS
A policy of immunising all Israeli neonates would, for a cost of $13.8 million, reduce the number of cases of hepatitis B during the 1990-2035 period in the cohort from 359,000 to 166,000 and save the nation around $21.5 million in health resources alone, $16.6 million in averted work absences, and a further $0.6 million in averted premature mortality costs. Even when the savings to the health services ($0.6 million) arising from the reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma are excluded, the direct benefit to cost ratio is 1.51/1, still in excess of unity.


CONCLUSIONS
The decision to adopt a nationwide neonatal inoculation policy, starting in January 1992, appears to be not only medically but also economically justifiable.
Ginsberg
G M
GM
Department of Data Analysis, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
Shouval
D
D
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000191:economics*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines