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May 24, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Modelling Cost Effectiveness of Meningococcal Serogroup C Conjugate Vaccination Campaign in England and Wales" British Medical Journal Online (www.bmj.com) (04/06/02) Vol. 324, No. 7341, P. 809; Trotter, Caroline L.; Edmunds, John
Before the introduction of the meningococcal C vaccination in England and Wales, the disease caused roughly 1,137 cases in people under the age of 18 years between 1998 and 1999, resulting in at least 72 deaths. Because the ensuing vaccination campaign cost between 126 million pounds and 241 million pounds, researchers strove to determine the cost-effectiveness of the campaign in terms of cost per life year saved. Overall, each life year saved cost 6,259 pounds, though school-based vaccinations were more effective and cost less. Vaccination of children younger than one year was effective in terms of life years saved, but was the most costly because of the course of three doses needed for each child. As meningococcal serogroup C disease is most prevalent in those under the age of 18 years, the vaccination campaign was found to be cost-effective, though it was most cost-effective when administered to children between the ages of one year and four years by doctors and between the ages of five years and 17 years at a school setting.
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