title: The cost-effectiveness of using hepatitis A/B combined vaccine versus hepatitis B vaccine alone for high-risk heterosexuals.
abstract: Previous studies estimated that vaccinating high-risk heterosexuals (HRH) with combination hepatitis A/B vaccine was a cost-effective alternative to vaccinating HRH against hepatitis B alone. Since then, the incidence of hepatitis A has declined dramatically in the United States. We re-estimate the cost-effectiveness of this policy accounting for modern declines in incidence. According to our estimates, vaccinating with combination vaccine resulted in a cost of $120,000 per quality adjusted life year gained (2.79 times the 2005 United States Gross Domestic Product per capita), a ratio that is less favorable than those for most other vaccination strategies.
authors.affiliation: RTI International, 2951 Flowers Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. drein@rti.org
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Rein
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weinbaum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000191:economics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000191:economics*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics; D015994:Incidence; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined