An economic evaluation of universal vaccination against hepatitis B virus.

This report presents the results of an economic evaluation utilizing U.K. data, into a vaccination programme against Hepatitis B using a genetically engineered, yeast-derived vaccine, Engerix B. Cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for four different programmes: an infant vaccination programme; a child vaccination programme; an adolescent vaccination programme; and a combined child and adolescent programme. For each programme, the number of annual cohorts vaccinated was varied from 1 to 25. The outcome was defined as incremental life years gained, and the results are reported as costs per incremental life-year gained. Benefits were calculated in both undiscounted and discounted forms. All costs were discounted. The discount rate used was 6%. All major epidemiological and cost assumptions were subjected to a sensitivity analysis. Baseline results with benefits discounted range from pounds188015 to pounds301365 per life year gained, depending on the duration of programme and vaccination strategy. With benefits undiscounted, the comparable range is from pounds5234 to pounds13034.