The Economic Case for Expanding Vaccination Coverage of Children

While childhood vaccination programs, such as WHO’s Expanded Program on Immunization, have had a dramatic impact on child morbidity and mortality worldwide, lack of coverage with several existing vaccines is responsible for large numbers of child deaths each year, mostly in developing countries. According to WHO estimates, increased coverage of three vaccines alone – pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), rotavirus vaccine (Rota), and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine – could have prevented one and a half million deaths in children under five years in 2002. In deciding whether to implement interventions to expand vaccination coverage policy makers often consider economic evaluations. Past evaluations, however, have usually ignored both important vaccination benefits and potentially large cost reductions in vaccination delivery. We demonstrate for the example of benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of the Hib vaccination that past studies have mostly taken narrow evaluation perspectives, focusing on health gains, health care cost savings, and reductions in the time costs that parents incur when taking care of sick children, while ignoring other benefits, in particular, outcome-related productivity gains (Hib vaccination can prevent permanent mental and physical disabilities) behavior-related productivity gains (reductions in child mortality due to Hib can trigger changes in fertility which in turn may stimulate economic growth) and community externalities (Hib vaccination can prevent the development of antibiotic resistance and reduce the risk of Hib infections in unvaccinated persons). We further show that the costs of Hib vaccine delivery can be reduced if the monovalent Hib vaccine is replaced by combination vaccines. Such cost reductions have usually been ignored in CBA of Hib. Our analysis thus suggests that past BCAs are likely to have substantially underestimated the value of Hib vaccination, even though most have found it to be cost-beneficial. Unless future BCAs of childhood vaccinations take full account of benefits and costs, policy makers may lack sufficient information to make the right decisions on vaccination interventions.vaccination coverage, children, economics

Rethinking the benefits and costs of childhood vaccination: the example of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

Economic evaluations of health interventions, such as vaccinations, are important tools for informing health policy. Approaching the analysis from the appropriate perspective is critical to ensuring the validity of evaluation results for particular policy decisions. Using the example of benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination, we demonstrate that past economic evaluations have mostly adopted narrow evaluation perspectives, focusing primarily on health gains, health care cost savings, and reductions in the time costs of caring, while ignoring other important benefits including outcome-related productivity gains (prevention of mental and physical disabilities), behavior-related productivity gains (economic growth due to fertility reductions as vaccination improves child survival), and community externalities (prevention of antibiotic resistance and herd immunity). We further show that the potential cost reductions that could be attained through changes in the delivery of the Hib vaccine have also usually been ignored in economic evaluations. Future economic evaluations of childhood vaccinations should take full account of benefits and costs, so that policy makers have sufficient information to make well-informed decisions on vaccination implementation.Economic evaluation, review, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

Global use of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines have been underutilized globally. We report progress in global use of Hib vaccines included in national immunization schedules. The number of countries using Hib vaccine increased from 89/193 (46%) in 2004 to 158/193 (82%) by the end of 2009. The increase was greatest among low-income countries eligible for financial support from the GAVI Alliance [13/75 (17%) in 2004, 60/72 (83%) by the end of 2009], and can be attributed to various factors. Additional efforts are still needed to increase vaccine adoption in lower middle income countries [20/31 (65%) by the end of 2009]

Determinants of policy and uptake of national vaccine programs for pregnant women: results of mixed method study from Spain, Italy, and India

An important strategy for addressing maternal and newborn risks of disease is through vaccinating pregnant women. We conducted a mixed-methods study including a narrative literature review of drivers of maternal vaccination and key informant interviews in Spain, Italy, and India to characterize different approaches to national maternal immunization programs. Fifty-nine respondents participated in the study conducted between November 2018 and January 2019. Policies in Spain and Italy both reflect a life-course approach to vaccination, but recommendations and how they ensure uptake differs. Italy was focused on tracking of progress and mandates to ensure compliance in all regions, while Spain, an early adopter, relied more on advocacy and building provider acceptance. India includes Td in their national program, but the political will and advocacy for other vaccines are not seen. Needs for improving rates of maternal vaccination include education of health-care providers and pregnant women, use of central registries to track progress, stronger global guidance for use of vaccines, and engagement of champions, particularly obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns). Health security concerns can also be leveraged to build political priority and needed platforms to detect disease and deliver vaccines in some countries. Understanding what drives a country’s maternal immunization program decisions and the success of implementation is useful in designing strategies to share best practices and guide support to strengthen platforms for maternal vaccination

Impact and cost-effectiveness of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccination in India.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the potential health impact and cost-effectiveness of nationwide Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination in India. STUDY DESIGN: A decision support model was used, bringing together estimates of demography, epidemiology, Hib vaccine effectiveness, Hib vaccine costs, and health care costs. Scenarios favorable and unfavorable to the vaccine were evaluated. State-level analyses indicate where the vaccine might have the greatest impact and value. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2031, Hib conjugate vaccination is estimated to prevent over 200 000 child deaths (∼1% of deaths in children <5 years of age) in India at an incremental cost of US$127 million per year. From a government perspective, state-level cost-effectiveness ranged from US$192 to US$1033 per discounted disability adjusted life years averted. With the inclusion of household health care costs, cost-effectiveness ranged from US$155-US$939 per discounted disability adjusted life year averted. These values are below the World Health Organization thresholds for cost effectiveness of public health interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Hib conjugate vaccination is a cost-effective intervention in all States of India. This conclusion does not alter with plausible changes in key parameters. Although investment in Hib conjugate vaccination would significantly increase the cost of the Universal Immunization Program, about 15% of the incremental cost would be offset by health care cost savings. Efforts should be made to expedite the nationwide introduction of Hib conjugate vaccination in India