Australia's meningococcal vaccine program was not disproportionately expensive compared to expenditure on other drugs, a new economic analysis reveals.

The federal government will spend $290 million on the free program which aims to protect every Australian against meningococcal C in the next four years, making it the most expensive vaccination program in Australia.

Critics have criticised the plan, claiming the cost is disproportionate to what is a relatively rare disease.

But based on a health economics analysis presented at a conference in Perth, it will cost $55,000 to prevent one "unit" of death or disability from meningococcal.

This was no more than the amount spent on stomach ulcer drugs using the same measurement, Dr Robert Hall, co-chair of the expert committee that advised the government on the program, said.

Dr Hall admitted the amount was at the upper end of public money expenditure on drugs but said it was not "off the scale".

"People have said the vaccination is very expensive and we'd be better off using our money elsewhere," Dr Hall said after presenting the figures to the infectious diseases conference in Perth.

"But what we're able to show is that compared with other things that we do in the health system it's not off-the-wall expensive.

"Compared with the drugs that we routinely use, it's cheaper than quite a few of them and it's certainly in the mainstream area, though at the high end."

There are about 600 reported cases of meningococcal in Australia each year.

Dr Hall said about ten per cent of people with meningococcal died and a similar proportion suffered disability in the form of amputated limbs, organ damage, hearing loss or mental retardation.

This made it a significant public health issue, he said.

"Firstly, it's lethal and ... secondly it's transmissible and can be spread from person to person," he said.

"So every time there's a case the public health authorities have to go out and find who the person's been in touch with over the previous week and give them a course of antibiotics.

"With a vaccine all of that's taken care of."

According to statistics from 2000, Australians face a one in 30,000 chance of contracting the disease.

The incidence of meningococcal C was 1.16 per 100,000 in 2001.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation set up to advise on meningococcal C (MCC) conjugate vaccines recommended an immunisation schedule with single doses at the ages of 12 months and 15 years, Dr Hall said.

Federal Health Minister Kay Patterson announced in November that more than one million children would be immunised against meningococcal C next year.

Those at greatest risk of the disease - children aged one to five and teenagers from 15 to 19 - would receive free vaccination, either from their GP or at school.

Children in the lower risk bracket of six to 14 years would be immunised by 2005.

©AAP 2002