Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
06:32

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice

Published on: September 19, 2016

Economic evaluation of universal BCG vaccination of Japanese infants

M Rahman1, M Sekimoto, I Takamatsu

  • 1Department of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

International Journal of Epidemiology
|May 23, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Universal BCG vaccination for infants in Japan is costly, with high expenses to prevent one tuberculosis case. The cost-effectiveness depends heavily on vaccine efficacy and protection duration.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Vaccinology
  • Health Economics

Background:

  • Investigates the international debate on Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine efficacy.
  • Addresses the low incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Japanese children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of universal BCG vaccination versus no vaccination in Japan.
  • To evaluate the economic impact of a BCG vaccination program for infants.

Main Methods:

  • A hypothetical cohort of 1.2 million infants born in Japan in 1996 was modeled.
  • Calculated TB cases prevented, immunizations needed, and costs using assumed vaccine efficacy (40-80%) and 10-year protection.
  • Performed sensitivity analyses on duration of protection, TB incidence, vaccine coverage, and discount rate.

Main Results:

  • Estimated 111-542 TB cases, including 10-27 TB-meningitis cases, prevented over 10 years.
  • Cost to prevent one TB case ranged from US$35,950-175,862, requiring 2125-10,399 immunizations.
  • Cost per TB case averted is sensitive to BCG protection duration and TB incidence.

Conclusions:

  • The cost per TB case prevented by BCG vaccination is high, influenced by vaccine efficacy and protection duration.
  • This cost is considerable when compared to the cost of treating an individual TB case.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb (BCG lux/M.Tb lux)08:10

A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb (BCG lux/M.Tb lux)

Published on: September 14, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System01:26

Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System

At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the type of...