Assessment of new vaccines in immunization programs.

Preventive technologies have had major impacts on disease incidence, mortality and costs. New preventive technologies are likely to further improve the public health in a cost-effective manner and require careful assessment to ensure their appropriate use. As in the appraisal of curative and diagnostic health technologies, a full evaluation of preventive technologies requires study of the epidemiologic, economic, ethical, social and legal issues related to their use. The appraisal of three new vaccines--for Hemophilus influenzae Type B, hepatitis B virus and varicella zoster--provides an illustration of the assessment of new preventive technologies.