[Cost-effectiveness analysis on meningococca serogroup C vaccination.]

Meningococci C are bacteria that can cause meningitis and severe bacteremia. In Iceland 8-15 cases of meningococcal disease can be expected annually. The case fatality ratio is approximately 10%. After the approval of the Icelandic government The State Epidemiologist started a vaccination campaign for all individuals from 6 months to 19 years of age in the country. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the vaccination programme. The cost effectiveness is made from the viewpoint of the Icelandic state. The cost per year saved is used as a marker for success. The cost effectiveness analysis reveals that the cost per case avoided is 618.000 Icelandic kronas and the cost per life year saved is 101.000 Icelandic kronas. In comparison the cost per case avoided is 2.481.334 Icelandic kronas and the cost per life saved is 857.483 Icelandic kronas in England and Wales. We conclude that vaccination against meningococci C is very cost effective but lower cost in Iceland can mainly be explained by lower cost of distributing and administering the vaccine to the vaccinees in Iceland compared to England and Wales.