Benefits and costs of immunizing children against influenza at school: an economic analysis based on a large-cluster controlled clinical trial.
Current influenza vaccination recommendations focus on immunizing high-risk people; however, influenza mortality and morbidity remain elevated. U.S. policymakers are considering expansion of flu vaccination recommendations to include school-age children (ages 5-18). Children are at risk for flu and propagate epidemic spread. Immunizing children at school offers an efficient approach to covering this population. This study examines the cost consequences of a large multistate, school-based influenza immunization program. The results show that immunization reduces disease among children and adults and is cost-saving to society. An epidemiologically based influenza immunization policy might be an important supplement to the existing risk-based policy.
Schmier
Jordana
J
MedImmune Inc. in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA. mahadeviap@medimmune.com
Li
Su
S
King
James C
JC
Nichol
Kristin
K
Mahadevia
Parthiv J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000191:economics*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D018803:Models, Economic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States
D007252:Influenza Vaccines