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Cost-Effectiveness of Hepatitis A–B Vaccine Versus Hepatitis B Vaccine for Healthcare and Public Safety Workers in the Western United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

R. Jake Jacobs*
Affiliation:
Capitol Outcomes Research, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia
Gene A. Gibson
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allen S. Meyerhoff
Affiliation:
Capitol Outcomes Research, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia
*
Capitol Outcomes Research, Inc., 6188 Old Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the cost-effectiveness of substituting hepatitis A–B vaccine for hepatitis B vaccine when healthcare and public safety workers in the western United States are immunized to protect against occupational exposures to hepatitis B.

Participants:

A cohort of 100,000 hypothetical healthcare and public safety workers from 11 western states with hepatitis A rates twice the national average.

Design:

A Markov model of hepatitis A was developed using estimates from U.S. government databases, published literature, and an expert panel. Added costs of hepatitis A–B vaccine were compared with savings from reduced hepatitis A treatment and work loss. Cost-effectiveness was expressed as the ratio of net costs to quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained.

Results:

Substituting hepatitis A–B vaccine would prevent 29,796 work-loss–days, 222 hospitalizations, 6 premature deaths, and the loss of 214 QALYs. Added vaccination costs of $5.4 million would be more than offset by $1.9 million and $6.1 million reductions in hepatitis A treatment and work loss costs, respectively. Cost-effectiveness improves as the time horizon is extended, from $232,600 per QALY after 1 year to less than $0 per QALY within 11 years. Estimates are most sensitive to community-wide hepatitis A rates and the degree to which childhood vaccination may reduce future rates.

Conclusion:

For healthcare and public safety workers in western states, substituting hepatitis A–B vaccine for hepatitis B vaccine would reduce morbidity, mortality, and costs.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

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