Economic evaluation of MF59 adjuvanted vaccine against influenza in the high-risk elderly population in France

Abstract

SummaryIt is accepted that routine vaccination of elderly patients against influenza is a cost-effective strategy. This economic evaluation compares standard vaccination with MF59 adjuvanted vaccine - an adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccination - in the high-risk elderly population in France. A cohort approach was developed to estimate the costs saved and deaths avoided by using adjuvanted vaccination instead of standard vaccination in the high-risk elderly. Using the established link between immunogenicity and protective efficacy, adjuvanted vaccination provides increased efficacy against influenza-related events,such as hospitalisations, primary care consultations and death. When the cost of the vaccination strategies and influenza-related events are accounted for, it was found that adjuvanted vaccination results in fewer deaths and more life years gained than standard vaccination. This is achieved with relatively little extra cost. At attack rates approaching 10%, adjuvanted vaccination is a dominant strategy. This implies that both a reduction in costs and an increase in benefits is observed. Therefore, on the evidence presented in this paper, the MF59 adjuvanted vaccine should be the vaccine of choice.