Cost-effectiveness of live attenuated influenza vaccine in small children

January 01, 0001

Cost-effectiveness of live attenuated influenza vaccine in small children

These US authors evaluated the effect of adverse events associated with live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in children younger than 5 years on the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination. They used a decision analytic model to predict costs and health effects of no vaccination, vaccination with LAIV, and vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV). Probabilities, costs, and quality adjustments for uncomplicated influenza, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, deaths, vaccination, and vaccine adverse events were based on primary and published data. The analysis included the possible increased incidence of adverse events following vaccination with LAIV for children younger than 5 years, including fever, wheezing, and hospitalization. A societal perspective was used.

They found: "Cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from $20,000/QALY (age 6-23 months) to $33,000/QALY (age 3-4 years) for LAIV and from $21,000/QALY to $37,000/QALY for IIV for healthy children aged 6 months to 4 years. Inclusion of possible new adverse events for LAIV had varying effects on cost- effectiveness results. Results were not sensitive to the inclusion of wheezing as an adverse event but were sensitive to a possible increase in the probability of hospitalization."

The authors concluded: "Live attenuated influenza vaccine had comparable cost-effectiveness compared with IIV for children younger than 5 years under a wide range of assumptions about the incidence of adverse events."

Factors other than cost-effectiveness should determine preference for type of influenza vaccine for young children.

For the full abstract, click here.

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 165(2):112-118, February 2011 © 2011 to the American Medical Association
Effects of Adverse Events on the Projected Population Benefits and Cost-effectiveness of Using Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine in Children Aged 6 Months to 4 Years. Lisa A. Prosser, Martin I. Meltzer, Anthony Fiore, et al. Correspondence to Dr. Prosser: [email protected]

Category: B. Blood/Blood Forming Organs/Immune Mechanisms, R. Respiratory. Keywords: influenza, vaccine, live attenuated vaccine, inactivated vaccine, children, cost-effectiveness analysis, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 22 February 2011

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