Cost-effectiveness and socio-economic aspects of childhood influenza vaccination

Abstract

Children have high rates of healthcare utilization due to influenza. In addition, children also transmit influenza to others in their households and the community. The costs of influenza in children include the direct medical care costs from increased outpatient visits and hospitalizations, and also indirect costs due to productivity losses especially for their parents and due to transmission of the virus to others. A variety of studies using different methods and assumptions have assessed the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination of children, and many find that vaccination is either cost saving or cost effective.