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Instituting a routine varicella vaccination program in Canada: an economic evaluation
Denis Getsios1, J Jaime Caro, Graciela Caro
1Caro Research, Montreal, Canada.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|August 17, 2002
Summary
Routine varicella vaccination significantly reduces chickenpox cases and complications. While overall costs decrease, the health care system faces increased expenditures, with vaccination costing $42 per case avoided.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Varicella vaccine licensed in Canada in 1998.
- Health Canada evaluated vaccination program options.
- Study focused on vaccinating 12-month-olds with/without catch-up for 12-year-olds.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate economic impact of varicella vaccination programs.
- Assess cost-effectiveness from a societal and health care perspective.
- Inform policy decisions regarding routine childhood varicella immunization.
Main Methods:
- Developed an economic model simulating varicella disease progression.
- Modeled cohorts over 70 years with and without vaccination.
- Calculated infection rates, complications, and costs, assuming $60 vaccine cost.
Main Results:
- 85% vaccine coverage reduces chickenpox cases by ~66% and complications by 75%.
- Overall varicella costs decrease by >$4 million per 100,000 vaccinees.
- Health care system costs increase by >$2 million; cost per case avoided is $42.
Conclusions:
- Routine varicella vaccination substantially lowers overall chickenpox management costs.
- Vaccination leads to increased health care system expenditures.
- Findings align with international varicella vaccination program evaluations.