A study assessing the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccine on middle-aged and older populations conducted by Korea University College of Medicine (KUCM) students has been published in an international journal.

The study, "Cost-effectiveness of trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines in 50- to 64-year-old adults in Korea" carried out by students and research team led by Professor Chun Byung-chul of KUCM, appeared in the July issue of Vaccine with an impact factor of 3.269.

Choi Eun-jeong (left) and Park Joo-hee, students of Korea University College of Medicine, carried out a study assessing the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccine for people ages 50 and 64, and published it in an international journal Vaccine. (KUCM)

The research team found that it is cost-effective to conduct a national vaccination program for those between 50 and 64 vulnerable to influenza complications but are not included in the targets.

Researchers built a decision tree for each age group to calculate the probability of infection or complication. Then they used health insurance data to match with treatment and medication costs to estimate cost-effectiveness.

The study result showed that influenza vaccination for people ages 50 to 64 was cost-effective. The quadrivalent vaccine was a better choice for the national vaccination program than the trivalent product.

Korea's national vaccination program is using a trivalent vaccine for children and people over 65 for free. Those between 50 and 64 are not included in the targets.

The findings implied that the type and target of the vaccine could be chosen by considering the social impact and cost of infectious diseases.

"It is meaningful that the results were published in a well-known journal as students spent several vacations studying the research from their sophomore to senior years," Professor Chun said. "I expect research papers of other students under a submission will complete well, and KUCM students tackle such studies to become creative medical professionals."

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