Active versus passive immunization against hepatitis A in the Israel defence forces: a cost-benefit analysis

We compared cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses of hepatitis A pre vention with immune serum globulin (ISG) vs inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (iHAV) in the Israel Defence Forces. Personnel were grouped according to c onditions and duration of service and analyses were performed based on maxi mum and minimum hepatitis A projected incidences for each group. For standi ng army soldiers in field units, iHAV is economically superior compared wit h ISG. For the five other groups studied, the reverse is true. Expected inc reases in production costs of ISG and expected decreases in costs of iHAV a re likely to make iHAV more economical in the future. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.