The timing of influenza vaccination for older adults (65 years and older).
While studies have found influenza vaccination to be cost-effective in older adults (65 years or older), they have not looked at how the vaccine's economic value may vary with the timing of vaccine administration. We developed a set of computer simulation models to evaluate the economic impact of vaccinating older adults at different months. Our models delineated the costs and utility losses in delaying vaccination past October and suggest that policy makers and payors may consider structuring incentives (< or =$2.50 per patient) to vaccinate in October. Our results also suggest that vaccination is still cost-effective through the end of February.
Section of Decision Sciences and Clinical Systems Modeling, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. BYL1@pitt.edu
Bruce Y
BY
Lee
Julie H Y
JH
Tai
Rachel R
RR
Bailey
Kenneth J
KJ
Smith
D000368:Aged; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018803:Models, Economic; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years
D007252:Influenza Vaccines