Influenza Immunization Campaigns: Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?

Courtney Ward ()

Working Papers from Dalhousie University, Department of Economics

Abstract: This study provides causal evidence on the health and economic consequences of a broad-scope vaccination program. The Ontario Influenza Immunization Campaign (introduced in 2001) expanded the scope of vaccine coverage to the full population. By using the timing of this campaign and exogenous variation in vaccine quality, I am able to causally link higher vaccination rates to decreases in lost work-time, hospitalization, and death. Results indicate that, when vaccine quality is high, the campaign resulted in higher gains for Ontario relative to other provinces and in short, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Results also suggest significant positive health externalities for the elderly. Possible implications for the benefits of a flu vaccine specific to H1N1/09 flu are discussed.

Pages: 49 pages
Date: 2009-10-27
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Published in American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2014, pages 38-72

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http://wp.economics.dal.ca/RePEc/dal/wpaper/DalEconWP2010-01.pdf (application/pdf)

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Working Paper: Influenza Immunization Campaigns: Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure? (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dal:wpaper:daleconwp2010-01

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