Health Economic Evaluation of Varicella Vaccination Within the Swedish National Vaccination Programme for Children

To assess the cost-effectiveness of including varicella vaccination in the Swedish national vaccination programme for children together with the added impact of catch-up vaccination of susceptible older children.

An epidemiological transmission model was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of a two-dose national varicella vaccination programme, with and without a catch-up strategy, compared to no varicella vaccination. Parameter estimates were based on scientific publications and data from Swedish national and regional registries.

A national varicella vaccination programme would result in health gains and cost-savings from a societal perspective. Cost-savings were primarily due to a reduction in caregiver productivity loss. From a health system perspective, the cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained was estimated at around SEK 200 000 (EUR 18 000), both with and without catch-up vaccination. At a negotiated vaccine price reduction to 30% of the current list price, the cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained would come down to SEK 5 000 (EUR 450).

Our analyses suggest that inclusion of varicella vaccination in the national vaccination programme for children would be a cost-saving strategy from a societal perspective, which together with a catch-up vaccination offer for susceptible older children would result in a fast decline of varicella in Sweden.