COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF RUBELLA VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL PERSONNELS IN SRINAGARIND HOSPITAL. (MEDICAL SCHOOL HOSPITAL)

Abstract

The main purpose of rubella immunization is the eradication of congenital rubella syndrome.  The majority of medical personnels are female in reproductive age.  Those personnels with negative rubella antibody are at risk of developing rubella infection during pregnancy.  It is not known whether screening for rubella antibody first and vaccinate only those with negative antibody is more cost benefit than routine vaccination without screening.

137 volunteer female medical personnels have had their blood drawn for rubella antibody before vaccination with attenuated live virus strain wistar RA 27/3, human diploid cells.  All direct and indirect costs are calculated in order to analyes the cost-benefit of each program.

The results indicated that the prevalence of positive rubella antibody was 67%.  About 17 of the vaccinees, with and without antibody against rubella experienced side-effects, most of them were mild.  From the perspective of hospital administrator, routine rubella vaccination without screening has more cost-benefit than screening before vaccinating only those who are susceptible.