Author(s)
Valaikanya Plasai, MPH, Dr, PH, Lecturer1, Ong-arj Viputsiri, MD, DrPH, associate professor2, Sathirakorn Pongpanich, BEcon, MA, PhD, associate professor, Director of PhD study3, Somrat Lertmaharit, M, Med, Stat, assistant Professor4, Usa Panichpathompong, BN, MSc, Senior Clinical Research Associate5, Veerachai Tarnmaneewongse, Bsc, In, Pharm,, Institutional Business Director5, Sunate Cheunkitmongkol, MD, Medical Manager5, Florence Baron-Papillon, MA, PharmD, Health Economics Manager61College of Public health Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, TN, Thailand; 2 Dept. Preventive & Social Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, bangkok, Thailand; 3 college of public Health Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; 4 Dept. Preventive & Social Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand; 5 sanofi pasteur, Bangkok, Thailand; 6 sanofi pasteur, Lyon cedex 07, France
Background: Influenza causes substantial morbidity and mortality in elderly people. Despite recommendations for annual vaccination against influenza and the availability of effective vaccines to deal with this disease, most elderly Thais are not vaccinated. Evaluation of the economic impact of influenza vaccination among elderly in Bangkok can support public health policy decisions concerning vaccination and also help influence medical practices. OBJECTIVE: To determine (i) the effectiveness of influenza vaccination among the elderly in Bangkok in reducing influenza like illness (ILI) and influenza-related complications and (ii) the cost-effectiveness from the societal perspective. METHODS: Using nonrandomized, non-controlled, prospective study, we studied active living people aged 60 or over who enrolled in two Elderly Co-ordination Centers (ECC). The two study arms were vaccinated and a non-vaccinated group with sample size of 520 each. The occurrence of influenza and its complications in each group was examined and cost-effectiveness evaluation of influenza vaccination performed. RESULTS: During the 12-month study, vaccination was associated with a reduction in the rate of visiting doctors and reported ILI (7.7% of vaccinated vs 13.3% of non-vaccinated). Under Thailand's 30 Baht health insurance program (governmental co-payment scheme), the out-of-pocket expenditures were lower in the vaccinated group (B9,896: B23,562) and mean value per person of vaccinated elderly was lower than non-vaccinated elderly (B206:B277) even though they were not significantly different. Annual direct saving in cost of illness if vaccination averaged B71 per elderly vaccinated, with cumulative saving of B36,920. Vaccination was associated with a reduction in ILI episodes during the influenza season. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results indicated the benefit and effectiveness of influenza vaccination for the elderly in Bangkok, the vaccine availability and affordability is still a discussion issue. It is clear that strategies targeting elderly and/or other groups are needed to improve vaccination policy and ensure better health of Thai population.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2006-03, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2006, Shanghai, China
Code
PIN6
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost-comparison, Effectiveness, Utility, Benefit Analysis
Disease
Infectious Disease (non-vaccine)
