Cost-effectiveness of adjuvanted influenza vaccination of healthy children 6 to 60 months of age

This study estimated the health and economic outcomes of universal administration of a adjuvanted influenza vaccine to healthy preschool children, as compared with current immunization practice. A Markov model simulated a cohort of 3 million children and their households undergoing five influenza seasons. Assuming a vaccine uptake rate of 30%, at the current acquisition cost of EURO5.50 per vaccine dose influenza vaccination (two doses for unprimed children) of 6- to 60-month- (5-year) old children averted more than 1 million clinical influenza episodes and saved EURO63 million, from the perspective of the Italian society. From the perspective of the Italian health care service, influenza vaccination of 6- to 60- and of 6- to 24-month-old children cost EURO 10,000 and EURO 13,333 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) saved, respectively. Administration of a adjuvanted influenza vaccine to children aged 6 to 60 months was highly cost-effective for the health care service and cost saving for the society.