Budget-impact analysis of alternative Herpes Zoster vaccine strategies

Abstract

Vaccinating individuals aged 50 to 59 years with the herpes zoster vaccine would likely have an impact on a health plan's budget because of the expected increase in the total number of individuals being vaccinated in the population, with limited cost savings because of fewer cases of herpes zoster. Higher coverage of vaccinations resulted in a greater increase in total costs each year. However, increasing coverage would also result in a decrease in the number of individuals developing zoster and associated postherpetic neuralgia and nonpain complications over the next 5 years.