Title: Economic Analysis of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Injection in Iranian Pregnant Women

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women are considered as one of the high risk groups for influenza. The best way to protect influenza in pregnant women and infants less than 6 months of age is to vaccinate pregnant women. Given the importance of vaccination against seasonal influenza in pregnant women and the cost of preventing influenza in pregnant women, can vaccination in pregnant women be considered as a cost-effective intervention? Methods: The present economic evaluation study was conducted from a social perspective. The decision tree model was used for economic analysis of influenza vaccine injection in pregnant women compared with no vaccine in the same control group. Clinical efficacy and side effects of the vaccine were obtained using a systematic review study. In order to calculate the costs of treatment of patients or other unintended consequences of the disease, the records of patients admitted to Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz were studied. Cost-effectiveness ratios were compared with cost-effectiveness thresholds to decide on vaccine effectiveness. One-way sensitivity analysis was used to investigate the effect of uncertainty on decision making. Results: The efficacy rate of influenza vaccine in reducing laboratory confirmed cases of influenza was 47 %( 0.22-0.64) by meta-analysis of international studies. Vaccination of pregnant women against non-vaccination had an incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) of 14292671 Rials per QALY. The results of the study were not sensitive to key changes. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination in pregnant women reduces laboratory-confirmed influenza in them and infants under 6 months of age who are not eligible for influenza vaccine. This is a cost-effectiveness intervention.