Adenovirus Vaccines in Military Recruit Populations: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

In 1966, the Army instituted an Adenovirus Surveillance Program to monitor acute respiratory disease (ARD) in recruit populations and the efficacy of adenovirus (ADV) vaccines in reducing ARD associated with ADV types 4 and 7. Between 1966 and 1971, the total cost of the surveillance program, including vaccine development, purchases, and administration, was estimated to be $4.83 million. In 1970 and 1971, when types 4 and 7 ADV vaccines were first used together for immunization of recruits entering basic training, it was estimated that these vaccines prevented 26,979 hospitalizations due to ARD. Direct and indirect costs associated with the hospitalization of one trainee with ARD amount to $279 (in 1971 dollar values). Thus the dollar estimate of benefits derived from use of these vaccines was 26,979 times $279, or $7.53 million. Based on these data, benefits derived from immunization ($7.53 million) outweigh the costs associated with immunization ($4.83 million), yielding a favorable benefit-cost ratio of 1.56.