title: Economic analyses of rubella and rubella vaccines: a global review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the incorporation of rubella vaccine into immunization programmes in developing countries is economically justified.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search was conducted for articles published between 1970 and 2000 that dealt with economic analyses of rubella and rubella-containing vaccines. The Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Africa regional Index Medicus databases and the LILACS database for Latin America and the Caribbean were also searched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For developed countries, five cost- benefit analyses of rubella vaccine and five of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine as well as two cost-effectiveness analyses were found. For developing countries, five cost analyses and five cost-benefit analyses were found. All the cost-benefit analyses had a benefit:cost ratio greater than 1 and the cost-effectiveness studies indicated that rubella immunization was a cost-effective means of reducing the impact of congenital rubella syndrome. However, the methodologies were not standardized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data support the inclusion of rubella vaccine in the immunization programmes of both developing and developed countries and indicate economic benefits comparable to those associated with hepatitis B vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. More studies should be carried out on costs for care and immunization using standardized methodologies and locally obtained information.
authors.affiliation: Task Force for Child Survival and Development, Decatur, GA 30030, USA. Ahinman@taskforce.org
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hinman
authors.forename: Beryl
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.forename: Merle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kami
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kandola
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000191:economics; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics*; D012409:Rubella / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution
chemical_list: D012411:Rubella Vaccine