Economic evaluation of the routine childhood immunization program in the United States, 2009

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The 2009 routine US childhood immunization schedule includes vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, poliovirus, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis A, and rotavirus.
• Assessing the economic impact of vaccination programs is crucial for public health policy and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the economic impact of the 2009 routine US childhood immunization schedule.
• To calculate the net savings and benefit-cost ratios associated with childhood vaccinations from direct and societal perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Decision analysis was employed, utilizing data on vaccination coverage, vaccine efficacy, and historical disease incidence.
• Costs were analyzed from direct and societal (including indirect costs) perspectives, with all figures adjusted to 2009 dollars.
• A hypothetical 2009 US birth cohort was followed from birth through death, with future costs and benefits discounted at a 3% annual rate.

Main Results:

• Routine childhood immunization is projected to prevent approximately 42,000 early deaths and 20 million disease cases in the 2009 US birth cohort.
• Net savings are estimated at $13.5 billion in direct costs and $68.8 billion in total societal costs.
• The benefit-cost ratios were 3.0 for direct costs and 10.1 for societal costs, indicating a substantial return on investment.

Conclusions:

• Vaccinating children according to the recommended 2009 US schedule yields significant cost savings.
• The economic benefits are substantial when viewed from both direct financial and broader societal perspectives, underscoring the value of routine childhood immunizations.