Rotavirus vaccination in northeast Brazil: a laudable intervention, but can it lead to cost-savings?
This study assessed the family and heath system's costs due to diarrhoea in children <2 years old, before/after the introduction of a rotavirus vaccine in Brazil in 2006. Information on diarrhoea health care costs and morbidity were obtained from the primary health care system, the National Public Health database (2004-2008) and care-givers. Diarrhoea ambulatory consultations and hospitalizations had a declining trend during the entire period, with additional steeper reductions after vaccine introduction. The vaccine thus is associated with reduced diarrhoea consultations and hospitalization costs and families' out-of-pocket expenses. Despite these gains, the overall health system's costs have increased.
Centenari
Chiara
C
Paediatric Department, University of Pisa, Via Di Pratale 18/A, 56127 Pisa, Italy. c.centenari@tin.it
Gurgel
Ricardo Q
RQ
Bohland
Anna Klara
AK
Oliveira
Débora M P
DM
Faragher
Brian
B
Cuevas
Luis E
LE
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000191:economics*
D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines