OBJECTIVES : Vaccines are now available for groups other than infants and children, with one such group being the aging population. To thoroughly assess the benefits of infection prevention to the society, the economic value of vaccination should be evaluated from a broader perspective. This study introduces a novel approach for evaluating the indirect cost estimates, considering a well-known approach in the financial world: Social Accounting Matrix (SAM).

METHODS : The SAM framework measures differences in money flow caused by a new intervention among economic agents. It first evaluates the money condition of having a disease in households and consequences for other economic agents (e.g., employer). It then evaluates the same condition when a new intervention to avoid the disease is introduced. The value of vaccination can then be assessed by estimating the total financial cost differences between the two states. This study illustrated the hypothetical impact of expanding flu vaccination to the aging population via the SAM modelling as an example.

RESULTS : The modelling exercise demonstrated that a net economic surplus may appear following further expanding flu vaccination programmes to aging adults. A healthier population keeping themselves or their caretakers at work resulting in greater productivity, would lead to increased consumption and profit, more tax revenues, and reduced healthcare spending, which in total would offset intervention costs.

CONCLUSIONS : The current study shows the necessity of evaluating the extended impact of vaccination, beyond healthcare-related impacts, via indirect cost estimates in a more detailed and defined manner than the conventional evaluation measures. This framework is relevant for public and private budget holders who may look for better returns on investments, especially in the Asian context, where aging adults will remain in the work force longer than in the past and the main workforce from younger generations is their primary caretaker.

Funding: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA (HO-20-20194).