Kosteneffectiviteit van influenzavaccinatie in Nederland

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination of all people aged 65 or over in the Netherlands. Design: Model calculations. Setting: National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Method: The cost-effectiveness of vaccination strategies was calculated using a mathematical model, with which the epidemiological effects in terms of morbidity and mortality as well as the direct costs of care of an influenza epidemic can be determined. The cost-effectiveness of non-intervention, of the current vaccination scenario for risk groups, and of an alternative scenario involving vaccination of all persons aged 65 or over and of all younger persons in risk groups, was calculated. Results: Influenza-related care (the number of GP contacts and hospital days) and related costs decreased more with the alternative than with the current risk group scenario. Although the costs of care decreased when more people were vaccinated, the cost of vaccination increased more so that total net costs rose (55 million guilders versus 24 million). In the alternative scenario yearly 1115 life years more were won than with the current practice. Conclusion: Vaccinating all risk groups and all persons aged 65 or more has a favourable cost-effect ratio in comparison with other preventive intervention programmes.