The European Medicines Agency has approved a multicomponent serogroup B 
meningococcal vaccine (Bexsero®) for use in individuals of 2 months of age and 
older. A cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) from the societal and Italian 
National Health Service perspectives was performed in order to evaluate the 
impact of vaccinating Italian infants less than 1 y of age with Bexsero®, as 
opposed to non-vaccination. The analysis was carried out by means of Excel 
Version 2011 and the TreeAge Pro® software Version 2012. Two basal scenarios 
that differed in terms of disease incidence (official and estimated data to 
correct for underreporting) were considered. In the basal scenarios, we 
considered a primary vaccination cycle with 4 doses (at 2, 4, 6 and 12 months of 
age) and 1 booster dose at the age of 11 y, the societal perspective and no cost 
for death. Sensitivity analyses were carried out in which crucial variables were 
changed over probable ranges. In Italy, on the basis of official data on disease 
incidence, vaccination with Bexsero® could prevent 82.97 cases and 5.61 deaths 
in each birth cohort, while these figures proved to be three times higher on 
considering the estimated incidence. The results of the CEA showed that the 
Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) per QALY was €109,762 in the basal 
scenario if official data on disease incidence are considered and €26,599 if 
estimated data are considered. The tornado diagram indicated that the most 
influential factor on ICER was the incidence of disease. The probability of 
sequelae, the cost of the vaccine and vaccine effectiveness also had an impact. 
Our results suggest that vaccinating infants in Italy with Bexsero® has the 
ability to significantly reduce meningococcal disease and, if the probable 
underestimation of disease incidence is considered, routine vaccination is 
advisable.