Related Experiment Videos
Economic analysis of a child vaccination project among Asian Americans in Philadelphia, Pa
R R Deuson1, K G Brodovicz, L Barker
1National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA. robert_deuson@merck.com
Insights
A community hepatitis B vaccination program for Asian American children in Philadelphia was cost-effective. The intervention saved 106 years of life, demonstrating a benefit-cost ratio of 4.44:1.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Economics
Background:
- Hepatitis B infection poses a significant health risk, particularly in certain ethnic communities.
- Targeted vaccination programs are crucial for disease prevention and control.
- Assessing the economic viability of public health interventions is essential for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and benefit-cost ratio of a community-based hepatitis B vaccination catch-up project.
- To analyze the economic impact of a vaccination initiative for Asian American children in Philadelphia.
Main Methods:
- Program evaluation design was employed.
- Community-based organizations and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health collaborated on outreach and vaccination delivery.
- Data on vaccination coverage, costs, and life years saved were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Vaccination coverage for a completed series increased by 12 percentage points.
- The total cost of the intervention was $268,660.
- The benefit-cost ratio was calculated at 4.44:1, with 106 years of life saved.
Conclusions:
- The hepatitis B vaccination catch-up project was found to be both cost-effective and cost-beneficial.
- Community-based interventions can yield significant public health and economic returns.
- Targeted vaccination strategies are valuable for improving health outcomes in specific populations.
Objective:
To ascertain the cost-effectiveness and the benefit-cost ratios of a community-based hepatitis B vaccination catch-up project for Asian American children conducted in Philadelphia, Pa, from October 1, 1994, to February 11, 1996.
Design:
Program evaluation.
Setting:
South and southwest districts of Philadelphia.
Participants:
A total of 4384 Asian American children.
Interventions:
Staff in the community-based organizations (1) educated parents about the hepatitis B vaccination, (2) enrolled physicians in the Vaccines for Children program, and (3) visited homes of children due for a vaccine dose. Staff in the Philadelphia Department of Public Health developed a computerized database; sent reminder letters for children due for a vaccine dose; and offered vaccinations in public clinics, health fairs, and homes.
Main Outcome Measures:
The numbers of children having received 1, 2, or 3 doses of vaccine before and after the interventions; costs incurred by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the community-based organizations for design, education, and outreach activities; the cost of the vaccination; cost-effectiveness ratios for intermediate outcomes (ie, per child, per dose, per immunoequivalent patient, and per completed series); discounted cost per discounted year of life saved; and the benefit-cost ratio of the project.
Results:
For the completed series of 3 doses, coverage increased by 12 percentage points at a total cost of $268 660 for design, education, outreach, and vaccination. Costs per child, per dose, and per completed series were $64, $119, and $537, respectively. The discounted cost per discounted year of life saved was $11 525, and 106 years of life were saved through this intervention. The benefit-cost ratio was 4.44:1.
Conclusion:
Although the increase in coverage was modest, the intervention proved cost-effective and cost-beneficial.