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[Are measles and mumps vaccinations worth while in Switzerland?]
Insights
General measles immunization in children aged one is cost-effective. Mumps vaccination is also economically recommended, though less impactful than measles immunization.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Public health economics
- Immunization policy
Context:
- Cost-benefit analyses are crucial for evaluating public health interventions.
- Vaccination programs aim to reduce disease burden and associated costs.
- Previous studies have examined the economic impact of childhood immunizations.
Purpose:
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of general vaccination programs for measles and mumps in children.
- To compare the financial benefits of measles versus mumps immunization.
- To determine the economic viability of mass vaccination for teenagers.
Summary:
- Cost-benefit analysis indicates that general measles immunization in the second year of life is highly cost-effective, with costs significantly lower than disease-related financial impacts.
- General mumps vaccination in the second year of life is also economically recommended, though with less pronounced financial benefits than measles immunization.
- Mass immunization programs for teenagers against measles and mumps are not economically advantageous, but individual vaccinations may be considered for those with no prior measles history.
Impact:
- Provides economic justification for universal measles and mumps vaccination in early childhood.
- Informs public health policy regarding the optimal timing and target populations for vaccination programs.
- Highlights the importance of economic evaluations in guiding vaccination strategies to maximize public health benefits.
Abstract:
Cost-benefit analyses have been performed in investigating the usefulness of general vaccination against measles and mumps in all children. Even by a conservative reckoning the cost of general measles immunization for all children in the second year of life is much lower than the financial effects of the disease. In the case of general mumps vaccination, cost-benefit analyses fo not give so significant an outweight of financial benefit as for measles vaccination. If only for economic reasons, however, general immunization against mumps is recommended for all children in the second year of life. From the economic viewpoint, general immunization programs for teenagers do not pay either with regard to mumps or measles. Such vaccinations may of course be recommended on an individual basis, especially for teenagers with a negative measles history.