The cost-utility of rotavirus vaccination with Rotarix™ (RIX4414) in the Netherlands

The objective of this study was to estimate the cost-utility of mass vaccination of 0-4-year-old children with Rotarix (TM) in the Netherlands. We used a Markov process with Dutch data on incidence, resource use and costs (GP, hospitalisation, productivity loss and household costs) to compare vaccination to conventional treatment from a societal perspective. Utility toss due to rotavirus-induced diarrhoea was measured using EQ5D, with GPs and paediatricians serving as proxies to fill out the questions. As the costs of a vaccination course ranged from (sic)90 to (sic)100 per child, the cost-utility ratio varied from (sic)21,900 to (sic)35,076 per QALY gained. Based on the current study, it is clear that mass vaccination with Rotorix (TM) against rotavirus gastroenteritis can be attractive, from an economic and a health care perspective. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.