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Economic evaluation of routine vaccination of 15 month old
children against chicken-pox-zoster
T. Forcén (1), R. Garuz (2), J. Cabasés (3), M. Ruiz de Ocenda (4), J.A. Martínez (2), J. Izko (1) (1). Centro de Salud de Tafalla. Servicio Navarro de Salud (2). Centro de Salud Actur-Sur. INSALUD. Zaragoza (3). Departamento de Economía. Universidad Pública de Navarra (4). Unidad Docente. Atención Primaria. Servicio Navarro de Salud |
 Background: An economic, cost-effectiveness evaluation was carried out that compared a hypothetical program of routine mass vaccination against the chicken-pox-zoster virus in children aged 15 months in the Foral Community of Navarra against the present strategy of vaccination that is restricted to the high risk population. Material and methods: Decision trees based on Markov models were used to calculate the costs of the health care of cases of infection and the costs of the effects of the vaccination program. The efficacy of the vaccination is 90-95%, and the scenario produces an immunogenicity of at least ten years, with a coverage of 90%. Account was taken of both the direct costs of health care and the indirect costs, with 1995 Pesetas taken as a constant, due to the loss in productivity of a family member, and a social view point was adopted for evaluating the study Results: The index of cost-effectiveness reflects the additional cost or saving for each case of avoided infection brought about by vaccinating the children in comparison with vaccinating only those persons belonging to the high risk population sectors. The cost per avoided case is situated between 3,500 Ptas and 4,000 Ptas. For each Peseta invested in the vaccination program there would be a reimbursement of 0.45 Pesetas. Conclusions: The routine vaccination program produces an incremental cost. Only in the case of a reduction in the price of the vaccine by more than 50% would the cost-effectiveness index offer a net social profit. Key words: Economic evaluation. Cost-effectiveness. Chicken pox. Vaccination.
Correspondencia Aceptado para su publicación el 28 de septiembre de 1999. |
