Medical experts at Chinese University have urged the government to include pneumococcal vaccine in the city's immunisation scheme after a study found the drug is a highly cost-effective way to prevent the disease.
A study by the university's pharmacy school concluded that if all Hong Kong infants received the vaccination, the cost of extending a person's life by one year, or the cost-per-life-year gained, would be HK$385,000.
The figure includes the cost of vaccination, administrative expenses and treatment if he or she is infected with pneumococcal bacteria even after receiving the vaccination.
The cost would be cut to HK$26,275 if protection for people who do not receive the vaccination, such as family of the children or those who have contact with them, is taken into account.
The study was conducted based on the 2005 birth rate, which stood at 57,000, and the babies were divided into two groups - vaccinated ones and non-vaccinated ones.
The cost projection was made by examining data collected from Prince of Wales Hospital, United Christian Hospital, the university's paediatrics department and private doctors. The rationale behind it is that since the children are not infected by meningitis, they live longer in the 10-year projection.
According to two standards set by the World Health Organisation, if the cost-per-life-year gained is less than HK$215,000, it is ranked as 'very cost effective'.
