Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of High-Dose Influenza Vaccination for Adults Aged 60 Years and Older in Austria

Author(s)

Moritz Wick, MSc1, Daniel Ruhnau, PhD2, Bettina Isnardy, Dr.2, Gerald Moncayo, PhD3, Oliver Damm, DrPH1.
1Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Berlin, Germany, 2Sanofi-Aventis GmbH, Vienna, Austria, 3Sanofi Vaccines, Lyon, France.
OBJECTIVES: Older adults are at elevated risk of complications from seasonal influenza, leading to increased healthcare utilization and mortality. The high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV) offers improved protection in individuals aged ≥60 years compared to standard-dose vaccines (SD-IIV). This study aims to assess the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of HD-IIV versus SD-IIV in Austria using a health economic modeling approach.
METHODS: A static decision-analytic model was developed to compare HD-IIV and SD-IIV in preventing influenza-related health outcomes among adults aged 60 years and older during a typical influenza season. The model incorporated Austria-specific data for demographics, epidemiology, and healthcare costs. Vaccine efficacy was derived from randomized controlled trials, applying a 24.2% relative efficacy for HD-IIV compared with SD-IIV. The analysis was conducted from the healthcare payer perspective over a one-season time horizon. Key outcomes included avoided general practitioner (GP) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths, alongside quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained and associated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Sensitivity analysis included a scenario reflecting a severe influenza season with increased mortality.
RESULTS: The model estimates that replacing SD-IIV with HD-IIV in the ≥60 age group would prevent 568 GP visits, 89 hospitalizations, and 57 influenza-associated deaths per season. The base-case ICER was €17,164 per QALY gained. Under the severe season scenario, the number of prevented deaths increased to 113 and the ICER decreased substantially to €7,434 per QALY.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that high-dose influenza vaccination for adults aged 60 years and above in Austria is likely to be a cost-effective strategy. The use of HD-IIV can significantly reduce the burden of influenza-related morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Policy makers should consider adopting HD-IIV for this age group to enhance protection and optimize the allocation of healthcare resources.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland

Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2

Code

EE437

Topic

Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health

Disease

Vaccines

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