INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH GEOGRAPHICS

Annual economic impacts of seasonal influenza on US counties: Spatial heterogeneity and patterns

Mao, Liang; Yang, Yang; Qiu, Youliang; Yang, Yan

Abstract

Economic impacts of seasonal influenza vary across US counties, but little estimation has been conducted at the county level. This research computed annual economic costs of seasonal influenza for 3143 US counties based on Census 2010, identified inherent spatial patterns, and investigated cost-benefits of vaccination strategies. The computing model modified existing methods for national level estimation, and further emphasized spatial variations between counties, in terms of population size, age structure, influenza activity, and income level. Upon such a model, four vaccination strategies that prioritize different types of counties were simulated and their net returns were examined. The results indicate that the annual economic costs of influenza varied from $13.9 thousand to $957.5 million across US counties, with a median of $2.47 million. Prioritizing vaccines to counties with high influenza attack rates produces the lowest influenza cases and highest net returns. This research fills the current knowledge gap by downscaling the estimation to a county level, and adds spatial variability into studies of influenza economics and interventions. Compared to the national estimates, the presented statistics and maps will offer detailed guidance for local health agencies to fight against influenza.

Keywords

Influenza; Economic costs; US Counties; Vaccination; Spatial heterogeneity

Research topic

Sustainability and Resilience

Research method

Econometrics, Spatial Modeling

Geographic area

US

Additional links for this paper

ResearchGate

Publisher Website

Web of Science

HOW TO CITE

Mao, L., Yang, Y., Qiu, Y.and Yang, Y. (2012). Annual economic impacts of seasonal influenza and vaccination on US counties: Spatial heterogeneity and patterns. International Journal of Health Geographics, 11:16.

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