The population based socioeconomic burden of pediatric influenza-associated hospitalization in Hong Kong

We described the monetary and non-monetary cost incurred by children hospitalized for virologically confirmed influenza virus infection in a population-based prospective 3-year study. The mean direct and indirect cost of each child hospitalized was $1217.82 (95% CI, 1111.54–1324.23) and $1328.33 (95% CI, $1136.79–1520.00) for influenza A and B, respectively. School age patients took a mean (SD) of 4.70 (3.05) days and 5.31 (3.62) days of sick leave for influenza A and B infection, respectively. Pediatric influenza A and B hospitalization was associated with 662–1046 days of school absenteeism and 214–336 days of parental work loss per 10,000 population <18 years of age per year. We showed that the cost incurred by hospitalization alone, was comparable to the cost of annual universal pediatric influenza vaccination especially in children 6 months to under 6 years of age and vaccination would result in much larger cost-savings when non-monetary costs are included.

► We described the monetary and non-monetary cost incurred by childhood influenza virus hospitalization.
► The cost incurred was comparable to that of universal influenza vaccination in children 6 months to <6 years.
► Vaccination would result in much larger cost-savings when non-monetary costs are included.