Economic benefits of a routine second dose of combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in Canada.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential economic benefits of a program for a second routine dose of combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, administered to children in Canada.

DESIGN

Both published and unpublished data from the United States and Canada were incorporated into a linear model. This information was supplemented with opinions on probability and resource use from interviews with a Canadian panel of physicians and practitioners. The province of Quebec was used as a model for resource use and costs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were based on a vaccination program for Canadian children at 18 months, with an estimated annual birth cohort of 400,000. Further data were also collected for the lifetime costs of complications arising from these diseases or from vaccination, for both patients and family caregivers.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes were reviewed from the perspectives of a provincial ministry of health (direct medical costs) and of society (all direct and indirect medical and nonmedical costs).

RESULTS

It was estimated that a second dose of MMR vaccine administered at 18 months of age would prevent 9200 cases of measles, 6120 cases of mumps and 1960 cases of rubella, producing a savings of $6.34 for every dollar spent from the ministry of health perspective, and $3.25 from the societal perspective.

CONCLUSIONS

A routine second dose immunization with MMR vaccine would result in considerable cost savings in Canada.