Valuing Influenza Vaccine: Medical, Economic, and Social Benefits

摘要

Every year, an influenza epidemic occurs that results in substantial global mortality and morbidity, as well as significant economic costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a mean of 200,000 excess hospitalizations occur and 36,000 Americans die every year because of influenza and its complications; therefore, influenza kills more Americans than does .any other vaccine-preventable disease . A mean of 1 in 8300 Americans will die of influenza and its complications by the end of the upcoming influenza season. This annual mortality continues despite the availability of influenza vaccines in the United States since the 1940s. Nearly 70 years later, the public and some health care workers still have questions regarding influenza vaccine safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of vaccination of adults, even though multiple studies and a review of the influenza vaccine data for healthy adults have convincingly revealed that vaccination is effective in preventing influenza virus infection#