Review of cost-benefit analyses of influenza vaccine.

Vaccination is an underutilised, low cost and effective method of preventing illness. Cost-effectiveness analysis discloses a beneficial role of influenza vaccination in preventing illness especially in patients over 65 years of age and in high risk patients. In one large study, when 150 million doses of influenza vaccine were given between 1971 and 1977 in the US, over 13 million more years of life were gained at a cost of only $US63 per year of life gained (1978 dollars). The vaccination programmes also resulted in productivity gains of approximately 5 million days which was valued at $US250 million. Other studies from Canada, Finland and the US found similar benefits. The findings of these studies are reviewed. In order to increase the use of influenza immunisation substantially, there has to be a greater acceptance of the value of immunisation by healthcare providers and the public.