Intradermal versus intramuscular hepatitis B re-vaccination in non-responsive chronic dialysis patients: a prospective randomized study with cost-effectiveness evaluation

This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. For the same cost, the intradermal administration of small doses of HBsAg is more clinically effective for re-vaccinating non-responding chronic dialysis patients than 2 doses of HBsAg administered intramuscularly. It is also the most effective and least expensive method of re-vaccination when compared with other strategies. However, compared with other immunisation programmes, costs are high and HB vaccination and re-vaccination strategies would only be cost effective in centres where the incidence of hepatitis B is high.