Cost-effectiveness of free influenza vaccination policy for Chinese older adults: a modeling analysis using real-world data
Vaccine·
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128782
- PMID
- 42247748
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7163753988
- Study type
- Commentary
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The modeled results indicate that a fully funded influenza vaccination policy for older adults could reduce modeled influenza-related health outcomes while lowering societal costs in the evaluated setting. The abstract specifically highlights implementation for older adults, including the oldest age groups.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study evaluates the lifetime cost-effectiveness of providing fully funded trivalent inactivated influenza vaccination to adults aged 60 years and older in China, compared with self-paid vaccination.
Study design
The analysis uses a static decision-tree Markov model from a societal perspective over a lifetime horizon. Model inputs were drawn from a regional health information platform, published literature, and an investigation, with sensitivity and threshold analyses used to assess uncertainty.
Population and setting
The modeled population comprises adults aged 60 years and older in China, using regional data associated with Ningbo for the economic evaluation.
Main findings
Compared with self-paid vaccination, the model projected fewer influenza cases, hospitalizations, and influenza-associated deaths under a fully funded vaccination program. It also projected cost savings and additional QALYs, with the program classified as dominant and having a 99.88% probability of being cost-effective at the stated willingness-to-pay threshold.
Public-health relevance
The modeled results indicate that a fully funded influenza vaccination policy for older adults could reduce modeled influenza-related health outcomes while lowering societal costs in the evaluated setting. The abstract specifically highlights implementation for older adults, including the oldest age groups.
Important limitations
The findings are model projections rather than directly observed policy effects and depend on the assumptions, parameter estimates, and data sources used in the static decision-tree Markov model. The abstract does not provide the full model structure, input validation, or detailed uncertainty results; interpretation therefore requires the original paper for decision-grade assessment.
GIDS interpretation
The article is discoverable under influenza, China, health policy, and vaccination, providing context for literature review on influenza vaccination policy in older adults. It does not establish or confirm any live surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.