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.