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

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Ward, Courtney J.
• 署名单位: Dalhousie University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.6.1.38
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 38-72
• 关键词: efficacy; HEALTH; immunization; epidemiology; mortality; ontario; virus

摘要

This paper estimates the overall impact and externality effects of an influenza vaccination program expanding coverage outside the typical target group. Using a triple-difference design, which exploits the introduction of a broad based vaccination program in Ontario and the quality of the vaccine from year to year, I link higher vaccination to health improvements. Results indicate coverage expansion leads to large excess gains for program-regions; benefits exhibit decreasing returns corresponding to a standard model of disease dynamics; and substantial external benefits accrue to older adults.