title: Potential impact and cost-effectiveness analysis of rotavirus vaccination of children in Israel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rotavirus is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years of age. Two effective vaccines against rotavirus gastroenteritis were recently licensed in many countries throughout the world. The study aimed to investigate the cost effectiveness of vaccinating an Israeli birth cohort of 143 500 children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cost-effectiveness analysis was determined using a decision analytical model, based on evidence-based estimates of the medical burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Israel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to our model, a routine rotavirus immunization program using Rotarix and RotaTeq would prevent 17,801 and 13,288 office visits and 645 and 535 hospitalizations every year, respectively. When direct healthcare costs and societal costs are taken into account, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per gained QALY for Rotarix and RotaTeq are $10,995 and $30,674, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus vaccination can be considered a cost-effective intervention in Israel, depending on the precise vaccine price.
authors.affiliation: Medical Informatics, Maccabi Healthcare Services, 27 Ha'Mered Street, Tel-Aviv, Israel. hodik_g@mac.org.il
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chodick
authors.forename: Orith
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Waisbourd-Zinman
authors.forename: Varda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shalev
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kokia
authors.forename: Mordechai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabinovich
authors.forename: Shai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008390:Markov Chains; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines