The first pentavalent combination vaccine for pediatric immunization gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in December 2002. This vaccine provides a significant breakthrough for making additional space available in the crowded National Childhood Immunization Schedule. It also provides a combinatorial explosion of choices for health-care providers, state agencies, health maintenance organizations, and health insurance providers. Is the vaccine worth the price at which it is being offered? Will the vaccine create unacceptable levels of extravaccinated children? Does the vaccine save six injections per child, as advertised? These questions, and others, will be considered and addressed during the presentation.
Professor Jacobson's research interests broadly span theory, computation, and applications in the field of operations research. His research on applying operations research methodologies to address pediatric immunization economic issues has drawn significant interest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the pharmaceutical industry, and the pediatric health care community. This research is currently funded through a grant with the National Science Foundation.