title: [Cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination The Netherlands].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, Bilthoven.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reinders
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Govaert
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sprenger
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines