The Cost Effectiveness of Hepatitis Immunization for US College Students

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 51; no. 6; pp. 227 - 236
• Main Authors: Jacobs, R. Jake, Saab, Sammy, Meyerhoff, Allen S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2003; Heldref Publications; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Age; College Students; Colleges; Communicable Diseases; cost and cost analysis; Cost Effectiveness; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Costs; Disease Incidence; Disease transmission; Female; Health Services; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A - economics; Hepatitis A - epidemiology; Hepatitis A - prevention & control; Hepatitis A Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis A Vaccines - economics; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - economics; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis B Vaccines - economics; Humans; Immunization; Immunization Programs; Immunization Programs - economics; Immunization Schedule; Infections; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Male; Markov Processes; Middle Aged; Middle Schools; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Serology; Student Health Services - economics; Students; Teenagers; United States - epidemiology; Universities; USA; Vaccines; Young adults; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448480309596355

Hepatitis B immunization is recommended for all American children, and hepatitis A immunization is recommended for children who live in areas with elevated disease rates. Because hepatitis A and B occur most commonly in young adults, the authors examined the cost effectiveness of college-based vaccination. They developed epidemiologic models to consider infection risks and disease progression and then compared the cost of vaccination with economic, longevity, and quality of life benefits. Immunization of 100,000 students would prevent 1,403 acute cases of hepatitis A, 929 cases of hepatitis B, and 144 cases of chronic hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccination would cost the health system $7,600 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained but would reduce societal costs by 6%. Hepatitis A/B vaccination would cost the health system $8,500 per QALY but would reduce societal costs by 12%. Until childhood and adolescent vaccination can produce immune cohorts of young adults, college-based hepatitis immunization can reduce disease transmission in a cost-effective manner.