Cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination of older people: a study in 5 western European countries.
Pneumococcal vaccination of older persons is thought to be cost-effective in preventing pneumococcal pneumonia, but evidence of clinical protection is uncertain. Because there is better evidence of vaccination effectiveness against invasive pneumococcal disease, we determined the cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination of persons aged > or =65 years in preventing hospital admission for both invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia in 5 western European countries. In the base case analyses, the cost-effectiveness ratios for preventing invasive disease varied from approximately 11,000 to approximately 33,000 European currency units (ecu) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Assuming a common incidence (50 cases per 100,000) and mortality rate (20%-40%) for invasive disease, the cost-effectiveness ratios were <12,000 ecu per QALY in all 5 countries. For preventing pneumococcal pneumonia, vaccinating all elderly persons would be highly cost-effective to cost saving. Public health authorities should consider policies for encouraging pneumococcal vaccination for all persons aged > or =65 years.
Ament
A
A
Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. andre.ament@BEOZ.unimaas.nl
Baltussen
R
R
Duru
G
G
Rigaud-Bully
C
C
de Graeve
D
D
Ortqvist
A
A
Jönsson
B
B
Verhaegen
J
J
Gaillat
J
J
Christie
P
P
Cifre
A S
AS
Vivas
D
D
Loiseau
C
C
Fedson
D S
DS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000276:immunology; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics*
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines