[An economic evaluation of strategy for expanding influenza vaccination in Japan]

Two years ago, the Japanese government decided to partially pay the influenza vaccination cost for residents over 65 years. About 23 million people are over 65 years-old, and 8 million elderly were vaccinated in this program. Hospitals and clinics usually charge about 5,000 yen for each patient given a vaccination. Since this program pays about 80% of the charge, the government paid about 32 billion yen for this program. Few studies have been done of the economics of influenza in Japan. One study found the total cost of treating hospitalized patients and outpatients was about 489 billion yen. Another study found the hospitalization cost from influenza to be about 187,000 yen for each admission. Assuming the effect of vaccination to be 70%, hospitalization and outpatient costs would be reduced by about 45 billion yen. The hospitalization cost alone would be reduced approximately 25 billion yen. Influenza vaccination is obviously cost effective.