Should university students be vaccinated against meningococcal disease in Canada?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit and costs of vaccination of university students against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Canada.

METHODS: Published studies were reviewed and a simulation model was used.

RESULTS: IMD risk seems to be of low magnitude, but consequences can be dramatic. Over a 10-year period, IMD risk reduction would be slightly greater using a monovalent C conjugate vaccine than a quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine. From a societal perspective, costs per quality-adjusted life-years gained would be between $135,000 and $698,000, according to epidemiological scenarios and with vaccine purchase prices between $35 and $50 per dose.

CONCLUSIONS: Economic indices exceed proposed criteria for cost effective public health programs, but from the perspective of students and parents, the cost of vaccination might be worth the benefit.