Comparative Economic Evaluation of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccination in Belarus and Uzbekistan

BACKGROUND: Hib vaccine has gradually been introduced into more and more countries during the past two decades, partly due to GAVI Alliance support to low-income countries. However, since Hib disease burden is difficult to establish in settings with limited diagnostic capacities and since the vaccine continues to be relatively expensive, some Governments remain doubtful about its value leading to concerns about financial sustainability. Similarly, several middle-income countries have not introduced the vaccine. The aim of this study is to estimate and compare the cost-effectiveness of Hib vaccination in a country relying on self-financing (Belarus) and a country eligible for GAVI Alliance support (Uzbekistan). METHODS AND FINDINGS: A decision analytic model was used to estimate morbidity and mortality from Hib meningitis, Hib pneumonia and other types of Hib disease with and without the vaccine. Treatment costs were attached to each disease event. Data on disease incidence, case fatality ratios and costs were primarily determined from national sources. For the Belarus 2009 birth cohort, Hib vaccine is estimated to prevent 467 invasive disease cases, 4 cases of meningitis sequelae, and 3 deaths, while in Uzbekistan 3,069 invasive cases, 34 sequelae cases and 341 deaths are prevented. Estimated costs per discounted DALY averted are US$9,323 in Belarus and US$ 267 in Uzbekistan. CONCLUSION: The primary reason why the cost-effectiveness values are more favourable in Uzbekistan than in Belarus is that relatively more deaths are averted in Uzbekistan due to higher baseline mortality burden. Two other explanations are that the vaccine price is lower in Uzbekistan and that Uzbekistan uses a three dose schedule compared to four doses in Belarus. However, when seen in the context of the relative ability to pay for public health, the vaccine can be considered cost-effective in both countries

Creation and Promotion of Brand-Image of Russia

In the conditions of growing competition between the countries the struggle has moved into a brand and image space. International ratings show that Russia has rather low positions. This fact suggests that the problem of formation of image of Russia is of great importance in the context of information pressure from a number of leading countries of the world. The article is devoted to the mechanisms of formation and promotion of the brand image of Russia. The author gives several proposals on developing the strategy of formation and promotion of brand image of Russia and recommends creating the Institute of image policy, which may include representatives of state, business elite and public institutions

Features of the market of marketing communications and their impact on the activities of fishing industry enterprises

Fisheries is one of the most important areas that allows you to obtain high-protein products of animal origin. At the level of meat, fish gives the human body the necessary protein, as well as trace elements. Fisheries is one of the important branches of the domestic economy, the main objectives of which are to meet the needs of the population in fish and fish products; to improve and expand the range of products of their processing; to ensure equal conditions of competition in the field of fisheries. Therefore, there is a need for scientific research on the study of the current state of the development of the fishing industry and the level of provision of the population of Russia with fish products. Of particular relevance are the issues of studying the market of fish products, forecasting the volume of its production for the future and the balance of its use (supply and demand), etc. The article considers the directions of marketing communications integration, analyzes the trends in the development of the marketing communications market in Russia on the basis of expert assessments. The conclusion is made about the integration of all marketing communication tools a priori for all market entities of different levels in order to achieve the overall effectiveness of their marketing activities

Incremental cost-effectiveness of Hib vaccine for the 2009 birth cohort in Belarus and Uzbekistan: Base case analysis and alternative scenario using GBD EURO estimates (discounted values).

<p>*Global Burden of Disease incidence and case fatality rates for the WHO European region <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0021472#pone.0021472-Watt1" target="_blank">[6]</a>.</p

Parameter values used in the base-case analysis.

<p>Parameter values used in the base-case analysis.</p

Vaccine and syringe costs with and without Hib vaccine (2010 US$).

<p>*DTP-Hib in Belarus and DTP-HepB-Hib in Uzbekistan.</p><p>**In Uzbekistan, hepatitis B vaccine birth dose and booster dose of DTP at 18 months are included here.</p

Hib disease model structure.

<p>Hib disease model structure.</p