[Cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination The Netherlands].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination of all people aged 65 or over in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Model calculations.


METHODS
National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.


METHODS
The cost-effectiveness of vaccination strategies was calculated using a mathematical model, with which the epidemiological effects in terms of morbidity and mortality as well as the direct costs of care of an influenza epidemic can be determined. The cost-effectiveness of non-intervention, of the current vaccination scenario for risk groups, and of an alternative scenario involving vaccination of all persons aged 65 or over and of all younger persons in risk groups, was calculated.


RESULTS
Influenza-related care (the number of GP contacts and hospital days) and related costs decreased more with the alternative than with the current risk group scenario. Although the costs of care decreased when more people were vaccinated, the cost of vaccination increased more so that total net costs rose (55 million guilders versus 24 million). In the alternative scenario yearly 1115 life years more were won than with the current practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccinating all risk groups and all persons aged 65 or more has a favourable cost-effect ratio in comparison with other preventive intervention programmes.
Reinders
A
A
Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Bilthoven.
Postma
M J
MJ
Govaert
T M
TM
Sprenger
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000191:economics*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics*; D026712:Value of Life
D007252:Influenza Vaccines