~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This message is from PedTalk! To reply to the group, use "" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Once again, I must agree with Robert and Lisa Wack. In a message dated 97-11-20 15:30:01 EST, you write: > I don't dispute that 1) the vaccine is effective 2) the vaccine is > safe. 3) that it may spare the lives of 50-100 children a year who > might die of varicella complications. My problem is that one of the > main reasons this was justified by the Red Book committee is the > "cost-effectiveness" based on a few (3!!) studies using some > epidmiologic/economic modelling techniques. > Given a cohort of about 3 million kids a year who would need > vaccination, at roughly $50 a pop, we're talking about $150 million A > YEAR to prevent 50-100 deaths. Right off the top of my head I can think > of a bunch of ways that money could be spent to save a heck of a lot > more lives.