Vaccine
Volume 27, Issue 50, Pages 6967-7138 (23 November 2009)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X

Cost-effectiveness of a 3-dose pneumococcal conjugate vaccine program in the province of Quebec, Canada
Béatrice Poirier, Philippe De Wals, Geneviève Petit, Lonny J. Erickson, Jacques Pépin

Abstract
In the province of Quebec, Canada, the pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was licensed in 2001 and a publicly funded program was implemented in 2004, recommending 3 doses for healthy children. An economic analysis was performed both from a health care and societal perspective. Outcomes possibly prevented by PCV-7 and observed in 2006–2007 were compared to expected frequencies based on rates measured before PCV-7 use. Annual program costs were close to $21 M for the health system and $23 M for society. Approximately 20 000 infections were prevented annually and estimated economic benefits were $5 M for the health system and $23 M for society, using a 3% per annum discounting rate. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $18 000 per QALY gained for the health system and the program was close to the break-even threshold in a societal perspective.