Thus, targeting RSV vaccination to older adults with underlying comorbidities is a cost-effective way to reduce disease incidence. This is particularly true because RSV infections cause severe disease in both older adults and infants, and infection rates increase with age. Vaccines are now available to prevent RSV disease in adults, and vaccination campaigns can reduce incidence in older adults and associated health care costs.
The studymodeling, thus estimates the possible impact of RSV vaccination and its cost-effectiveness or efficiency in different age groups with different health risks. Most existing cost-effectiveness studies have focused on adults aged 60 and over, but in this study, the team measured these effects on adults aged 50 and over, according to age, medical risk or both.
Consider underlying health conditions when targeting vaccination
Lead author Dr. Ashleigh Tuite of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Centre for Immunization Programs and the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health says: “strategies targeted at adults suffering from underlying health problems that put them at increased risk of RSV are more likely to be cost-effective than general age-based strategies. We find that vaccinating older adults may be less costly and more effective than no vaccination and that vaccinating older adults 70 years and older with chronic illnesses is likely to be very profitable.”
The research team notes that in some settings where disease risk and health care costs are higher, such as medical deserts with less vaccine access, broader vaccination programs for all age groups may also be cost-effective.
- 1 dose of RSV vaccine provides protection against disease for at least two respiratory virus seasons.
