Economic evaluation of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination in Slovenia

The objective of the present study was to assess the economical impact of i nvasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections in Slovenia, where the ann ual incidence of these infections is 16.4/100 000 in children less than 5 y ears of age, and to compare it with the costs of a vaccination programme. T he lifetime costs and benefits were estimated for the annual birth cohort o f 18200 children. In the base-case model, the calculated benefit-to-cost ra tios were 0.15, 0.98 and 1.38 taking into account 95% of savings in acute c are costs, medical costs, and medical and non-medical costs, respectively. From the point of view of the Institute of Health Insurance of Slovenia, wh o pays all healthcare and vaccination costs, the vaccination programme per annual birth cohort of 18200 children would require an extra 7023 EUR or 0. 40 EUR per cohort-child. The savings to society would represent 118410 EUR, indicating the rationale for inclusion of H. influenzae type b vaccination in the routine childhood immunisation programme in Slovenia. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.