Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
Published on: February 15, 2013
Cost-effectiveness of heptavalent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar) in Germany: considering a high-risk
Adam Lloyd1, Nishma Patel, David A Scott
1Fourth Hurdle Consulting Ltd, London, WC1V 6PL, UK. adamlloyd@fourthhurdle.com
Insights
Vaccinating all children with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Germany could be cost-neutral due to herd immunity, significantly reducing adult deaths. This strategy is more economically attractive than vaccinating only high-risk children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Vaccinology
Background:
- The seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevenar) is recommended for high-risk children in Germany.
- Herd immunity from childhood vaccination may reduce pneumococcal disease in unvaccinated adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany.
- To compare vaccinating high-risk children versus all children, considering individual and herd immunity benefits.
Main Methods:
- A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed.
- The model included vaccination, disease management, insurance, and disability costs.
- Three vaccination strategies were evaluated: high-risk children, all children (individual benefits), and all children (including herd immunity).
Main Results:
- Vaccinating high-risk children cost €38,222 per life year gained.
- Vaccinating all children without herd immunity cost €100,636 per life year gained.
- Including herd immunity, vaccinating all children was cost-neutral, reducing adult deaths by 3,027 annually.
Conclusions:
- Universal childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Germany is potentially cost-neutral and highly beneficial due to herd immunity.
- This approach is more attractive than the current policy of selective vaccination for high-risk children.
- Findings are sensitive to the vaccine's impact on elderly pneumonia and invasive disease rates.
Abstract:
In Germany, the seven-valent conjugate vaccine Prevenar is recommended for use in children at high risk of pneumococcal disease. Recent data suggest that giving conjugate vaccine to all children may lead to a decline in pneumococcal disease in unvaccinated adults, a phenomenon known as herd immunity. This analysis evaluated the cost and economic consequences in Germany of vaccinating (1) children at high risk, (2) all children when considering only benefits for vaccinated individuals and (3) all children when also considering herd immunity benefits. Costs in the model included vaccination, management of meningitis, bacteraemia, pneumonia and acute otitis media, insurance payments to parents and the costs of care for long-term disabilities. The model estimated that the cost-effectiveness of vaccination would be 38,222 euros per life year gained in children at high risk and 100,636 euros per life year gained in all children when not considering herd immunity. When considering herd immunity effects, the model estimated that offering vaccination for all children would reduce adult deaths by 3,027 per year, and vaccination would be broadly cost neutral. The findings are sensitive to the effect of conjugate vaccine on the rates of pneumonia and invasive disease in the elderly. If the herd immunity effect of conjugate vaccination in Germany is similar to that observed elsewhere, offering vaccine to all children will be more attractive than the current policy of restricting vaccination to children at high risk of pneumococcal disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:24Smallpox
01:21Vaccines
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...