title: Pharmacoeconomics of elderly vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections: cost-effectiveness analyses and implications for The Netherlands.
abstract: We performed a review of cost-effectiveness of elderly pneumococcal vaccination to prevent invasive disease. It concerns studies in the USA, Canada, Netherlands and Spain and a multinational study of five European countries. Cost-effectiveness of elderly vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections varies from cost-saving to EUR 33,000 per life-year gained. The Dutch study estimates cost-effectiveness at EUR 10,100 per life-year gained (price level: 1995). This is below the level that has recently been defined for treatment of high cholesterol (EUR 20,000 per life-year gained) and may therefore be considered as favorable. Almost all studies base their estimate of vaccine efficacy on the same case-control study from the USA. We identify a need for a systematic review on the efficacy of the pneumococcal vaccine. Also, we suggest further analysis with respect to potential effects on cost-effectiveness of extended influenza vaccination for the Dutch elderly in recent years and inclusion of pneumococcal re-vaccination. Pending this additional information, we conclude that cost-effectiveness of vaccination against invasive pneumococcal infections for Dutch elderly is favorable (as in several other countries) and justifies implementation from a pharmacoeconomic point of view.
authors.affiliation: Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration/University of Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GUIDE/GRIP), Groningen, The Netherlands. m.postma@farm.rug.nl
authors.forename: Maarten J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Marie-Louise A
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Heijnen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beutels
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jager
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines