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How and why researchers use the number needed to vaccinate to inform decision making--a systematic review.
- Source :
-
Vaccine [Vaccine] 2015 Feb 04; Vol. 33 (6), pp. 753-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Dec 25. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Background: The number needed to vaccinate (NNV) is a measure that has been widely used in the scientific literature to draw conclusions about the usefulness and cost-effectiveness of various immunization programmes. The main objective of this review is to examine how and why the NNV has been used and reported in the published literature.<br />Methods: Electronic databases were searched and records were screened against the eligibility criteria by two independent authors. We included papers that reported and interpreted NNV.<br />Results: We identified 27 studies, the designs including observational studies, economic analyses, systematic reviews, and commentaries. The NNV has been used in the literature to describe three main themes: potential benefits of vaccination programmes, cost-effectiveness, and economic analyses, and modelling studies to compare different vaccination strategies.<br />Conclusions: NNV has been used in a wide variety of ways in the literature, yet there are no defined thresholds for what is a favourable NNV. Furthermore, the generalizability of the NNV is usually limited. Further work is required to determine the most appropriate use of this measure.<br /> (Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Bacterial Infections economics
Bacterial Infections immunology
Bacterial Infections prevention & control
Bacterial Vaccines administration & dosage
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Databases, Bibliographic
Decision Making
Health Services Needs and Demand economics
Humans
Vaccination economics
Viral Vaccines administration & dosage
Virus Diseases economics
Virus Diseases immunology
Virus Diseases prevention & control
Bacterial Vaccines economics
Health Services Needs and Demand statistics & numerical data
Models, Statistical
Research Design statistics & numerical data
Vaccination statistics & numerical data
Viral Vaccines economics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-2518
- Volume :
- 33
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Vaccine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25543164
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.12.033