[Cost-benefit analysis for hepatitis A vaccine].Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 1999 Aug; 20(4):224-7.ZL
OBJECTIVE
To improve economic benefits of hepatitis A (HA) vaccination and to lay a foundation for formulating an immunization strategy for it.
METHODS
Health economics methods were used for analyzing the cost-benefit ratio, balance point of cost-benefit and balance point of antibody level after HA vaccination.
RESULTS
The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for HA vaccine was 2.53 in Jiangxing City of Zhejiang Province with an HA-specific incidence rate of 41.15 per ten thousand. Incidence rate of HA was 16.26 per ten thousand at balance point of cost-benefit of HA vaccine. Cost would be reduced if serum HA antibody was screened before vaccination in the population with more than 50% of seropositive HA antibody.
CONCLUSION
It indicated that more economic benefits would be gained if mass HA vaccination strategy was used. Vaccinee of choice was those at ages of 15 to 29 years. HA vaccination after antibody screening in the population aged over 25 years would be more economic than the direct use.