Healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with hepatitis A in the United States: a retrospective database analysis.

AIM: To investigate hepatitis A-related healthcare resource use and costs in the US. METHODS: The Merative Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters database was retrospectively analyzed for hepatitis A-related inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department (ED) claims from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018. We calculated the hepatitis A incidence proportion per 100,000 enrollees, healthcare resource utilization, and costs (in 2020 USD). Results were stratified by age, gender, and select comorbidities. RESULTS: The overall hepatitis A incidence proportion was 6.1 per 100,000 enrollees. Among individuals with ≥1 hepatitis A-related claim, the majority (92.6%) had ≥1 outpatient visit related to hepatitis A; 9.1% were hospitalized and 4.2% had ≥1 ED visit. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) length of hospital stay was 5.2 (8.1) days; the mean (SD) number of outpatient and ED visits were 1.3 (1.3) and 1.1 (0.6), respectively. The incidence proportion per 100,000 was higher among adults than children (7.5 vs. 1.5), individuals with HIV than those without (126.7 vs. 5.9), and individuals with chronic liver disease than those without (143.6 vs. 3.8). The total mean (SD)/median (interquartile range, IQR) per-patient cost for hepatitis A-related care was $2,520 ($10,899)/$156 ($74-$529) and the mean cost of hospitalization was 18.7 times higher than that of outpatient care ($17,373 vs. $928). LIMITATIONS: The study data included only a commercially insured population and may not be representative of all individuals. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, hepatitis A is associated with a substantial economic burden among privately insured individuals in the US.

Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. In the US, safe and effective vaccines for hepatitis A have been available since 1996. Vaccination recommendations include children (all children aged 12­23 months and previously unvaccinated children aged 2­18 years old) and adults at risk of infection or severe disease (e.g. international travelers, men who have sex with men, persons experiencing homelessness, persons with chronic liver disease or persons with HIV infection). Since 2016, the US has experienced person-to-person outbreaks of hepatitis A, primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals who use drugs or are experiencing homelessness. To better understand the impact of hepatitis A in the US, we assessed healthcare resource use and costs in 15,435 patients with hepatitis A from 2012 to 2018 in the Merative Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters database. We found that slightly more than 6 per 100,000 enrollees had hepatitis A from 2012 to 2018 and the number of people treated for hepatitis A per 100,000 was highest for people living with HIV or with chronic liver disease. The majority (92.6%) of people reported at least an outpatient visit, 9.1% were hospitalized, and 4.2% had an emergency department visit. The average cost for hepatitis A-related care was $2,520 per patient and was 18.7 times higher for hospitalized patients ($17,373) than for patients treated in outpatient care ($928). Our results are limited by the generalizability of the dataset, which is a convenience sample of private insurance claims, and are therefore unlikely to capture groups at high-risk for hepatitis A, such as individuals experiencing homelessness. In conclusion, hepatitis A leads to considerable healthcare costs for privately insured individuals in the US.

The Burden of Hepatitis A Outbreaks in the United States: Health Outcomes, Economic Costs, and Management Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccines are recommended for US adults at risk of HepA. Ongoing United States (US) HepA outbreaks since 2016 have primarily spread person-to-person, especially among at-risk groups. We investigated the health outcomes, economic burden, and outbreak management considerations associated with HepA outbreaks from 2016 onwards. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted to assess HepA outbreak-associated health outcomes, health care resource utilization (HCRU), and economic burden. A targeted literature review evaluated HepA outbreak management considerations. RESULTS: Across 33 studies reporting on HepA outbreak-associated health outcomes/HCRU, frequently reported HepA-related morbidities included acute liver failure/injury (n = 6 studies of 33 studies) and liver transplantation (n = 5 of 33); reported case fatality rates ranged from 0% to 10.8%. Hospitalization rates reported in studies investigating person-to-person outbreaks ranged from 41.6% to 84.8%. Ten studies reported on outbreak-associated economic burden, with a national study reporting an average cost of over $16 000 per hospitalization. Thirty-four studies reported on outbreak management; challenges included difficulty reaching at-risk groups and vaccination distrust. Successes included targeted interventions and increasing public awareness. CONCLUSIONS: This review indicates a considerable clinical and economic burden of ongoing US HepA outbreaks. Targeted prevention strategies and increased public awareness and vaccination coverage are needed to reduce HepA burden and prevent future outbreaks.

Cost-effective analysis of hepatitis A vaccination in Kerala state, India.

Several hepatitis A outbreaks have recently been reported in Kerala state, India. To inform coverage decision of hepatitis A vaccine in Kerala, this study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of 1) hepatitis A vaccination among children aged 1 year and individuals aged 15 years, and 2) serological screening of individuals aged 15 years and vaccination of susceptible as compared to no vaccination or vaccination without serological screening. Both live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine and inactivated hepatitis A vaccine were considered in the analysis. A combination of decision tree and Markov models with a cycle length of one year was employed to estimate costs and benefits of different vaccination strategies. Analysis were based on both societal and payer perspectives. The lifetime costs and outcomes were discounted by 3%. Our findings indicated that all strategies were cost-saving for both societal and payer perspectives. Moreover, budget impact analysis revealed that vaccination without screening among individuals aged 15 years could save the government's budget by reducing treatment cost of hepatitis A. Our cost-effectiveness evidence supports the inclusion of hepatitis A vaccination into the vaccination program for children aged 1 year and individuals aged 15 years in Kerala state, India.

Estimated Medicaid Costs Associated with Hepatitis A During an Outbreak - West Virginia, 2018-2019.

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Transmission of the virus most commonly occurs through the fecal-oral route after close contact with an infected person. Widespread outbreaks of hepatitis A among persons who use illicit drugs (injection and noninjection drugs) have increased in recent years (1). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine hepatitis A vaccination for children and persons at increased risk for infection or severe disease, and, since 1996, has recommended hepatitis A vaccination for persons who use illicit drugs (2). Vaccinating persons who are at-risk for HAV infection is a mainstay of the public health response for stopping ongoing person-to-person transmission and preventing future outbreaks (1). In response to a large hepatitis A outbreak in West Virginia, an analysis was conducted to assess total hepatitis A-related medical costs during January 1, 2018-July 31, 2019, among West Virginia Medicaid beneficiaries with a confirmed diagnosis of HAV infection. Among the analysis population, direct clinical costs ranged from an estimated $1.4 million to $5.6 million. Direct clinical costs among a subset of the Medicaid population with a diagnosis of a comorbid substance use disorder ranged from an estimated $1.0 million to $4.4 million during the study period. In addition to insight on preventing illness, hospitalization, and death, the results from this study highlight the potential financial cost jurisdictions might incur when ACIP recommendations for hepatitis A vaccination, especially among persons who use illicit drugs, are not followed (2).

Cost Comparison Between 2 Responses to Hepatitis A Virus Incidents in Restaurant Food Handlers-New York City, 2015 and 2017.

CONTEXT: While the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) can use agency-wide emergency activation to respond to a hepatitis A virus-infected food handler, there is a need to identify alternative responses that conserve scarce resources. OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs incurred by DOHMH of responding to a hepatitis A case in restaurant food handlers using an agency-wide emergency activation (2015) versus the cost of collaborating with a private network of urgent care clinics (2017). DESIGN: We partially evaluate the costs incurred by DOHMH of responding to a hepatitis A case in a restaurant food handler using agency-wide emergency activation (2015) with the cost of collaborating with a private network of urgent care clinics (2017) estimated for a scenario in which DOHMH incurred the retail cost of services rendered. RESULTS: Costs incurred by DOHMH for emergency activation were $65 831 ($238 per restaurant employee evaluated) of which DOHMH personnel services accounted for 85% ($55 854). Costs of collaboration would have totaled $50 914 ($253 per restaurant employee evaluated) of which personnel services accounted for 6% ($3146). CONCLUSIONS: Accounting for incident size, collaborating with the clinic network was more expensive than agency-wide emergency activation, though required fewer DOHMH personnel services.

Public health impact and cost effectiveness of routine childhood vaccination for hepatitis a in Jordan: a dynamic model approach.

BACKGROUND: As the socioeconomic conditions in Jordan have improved over recent decades the disease and economic burden of Hepatitis A has increased. The purpose of this study is to assess the potential health and economic impact of a two-dose hepatitis A vaccine program covering one-year old children in Jordan. METHODS: We adapted an age-structured population model of hepatitis A transmission dynamics to project the epidemiologic and economic impact of vaccinating one-year old children for 50 years in Jordan. The epidemiologic model was calibrated using local data on hepatitis A in Jordan. These data included seroprevalence and incidence data from the Jordan Ministry of Health as well as hospitalization data from King Abdullah University Hospital in Irbid, Jordan. We assumed 90% of all children would be vaccinated with the two-dose regimen by two years of age. The economic evaluation adopted a societal perspective and measured benefits using the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). RESULTS: The modeled vaccination program reduced the incidence of hepatitis A in Jordan by 99%, 50 years after its introduction. The model projected 4.26 million avoided hepatitis A infections, 1.42 million outpatient visits, 22,475 hospitalizations, 508 fulminant cases, 95 liver transplants, and 76 deaths over a 50 year time horizon. In addition, we found, over a 50 year time horizon, the vaccination program would gain 37,502 QALYs and save over $42.6 million in total costs. The vaccination program became cost-saving within 6 years of its introduction and was highly cost-effective during the first 5 years. CONCLUSION: A vaccination program covering one-year old children is projected to be a cost-saving intervention that will significantly reduce the public health and economic burden of hepatitis A in Jordan.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of vaccinations and decision makings on vaccination programmes in Hong Kong: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and systematically review the modelling and reporting of cost-effectiveness analysis of vaccination in Hong Kong, and to identify areas for quality enhancement in future cost-effectiveness analyses. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive and systematic review of cost-effectiveness studies related to vaccination and government immunisation programmes in Hong Kong published from 1990 to 2015, through database search of Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and OVID Medline. Methodological quality of selected studies was assessed using Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards checklist (CHEERS). Decision making of vaccination was obtained from Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (SCVPD) and Department of Health in Hong Kong. RESULTS: Nine eligible studies reporting twelve comparative cost-effectiveness comparisons of vaccination programme for influenza (n=2), pneumococcal disease (n=3), influenza plus pneumococcal disease (n=1), chickenpox (n=2), Haemophilus influenzae b (n=1), hepatitis A (n=1), cervical cancer (n=1) and rotavirus (n=1) were identified. Ten comparisons (83.3%) calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of a vaccination strategy versus status quo as outcomes in terms of cost in USD per life-years, cost per quality-adjusted life-years, or cost per disability-adjusted life-years. Among those 10 comparisons in base-case scenario, 4 evaluated interventions were cost-saving relative to status quo while the ICER estimates in 3 of the 6 remaining comparisons were far below commonly accepted threshold and WHO willingness-to-pay threshold, suggestive of very cost-effective. Seven studies were of good quality based on the CHEERS checklist; one was of moderate quality; and one was of excellent quality. The common methodological problems were characterisation of heterogeneity and reporting of study parameters. CONCLUSIONS: There was a paucity of cost-effectiveness models evaluating vaccination targeted to the Hong Kong population. All evaluated vaccinations and immunisation interventions in Hong Kong, except for Haemophilus influenzae b, hepatitis A and HPV vaccinations, were considered either cost-saving or very cost-effective when compared to status quo.

Socioeconomic indicators are strong predictors of hepatitis A seroprevalence rates in the Middle East and North Africa.

The goal of this analysis was to examine the association between age-specific hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence rates and various socioeconomic indicators within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We conducted a systematic review of all recently published studies on HAV conducted in the MENA region and identified the highest quality studies for inclusion in our analysis. We calculated the age at midpoint of population immunity (AMPI) for each study and estimated seroprevalence rates at the ages of 5, 10, and 15 years. Next, we identified the correlations between these metrics and several socioeconomic variables. HAV data collected in or after 2000 were available for 14 of the 19 countries in the MENA region. Four of the 14 included countries had intermediate HAV endemicity (Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and UAE), five had high endemicity (Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia), and five had very high endemicity (Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen). Water and sanitation were not significant predictors of AMPI or seroprevalence, most likely because most countries in this region have high rates of access to these utilities. However, gross domestic product (GDP), gross national income (GNI), and the human development index (HDI) were all highly associated with AMPI and prevalence. The observed correlations suggest that of the MENA countries without recent HAV data, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar most likely have low endemicity, Oman likely has intermediate endemicity, and Libya likely has high endemicity. While it is unlikely that a single correlation model would be suitable for use in all world regions, the approach utilized in this analysis might provide a simple but accurate method for using economic data to impute the endemicity profiles of countries without recent data in regions where at least several neighboring countries have conducted recent serostudies.

Effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination as post-exposure prophylaxis.

Hepatitis A (HA) has been a vaccine-preventable disease since 1995. In Catalonia, a universal combined hepatitis A+B vaccination program of preadolescents was initiated at the end of 1998. However, outbreaks are reported each year and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine or immunoglobulin (IG) is recommended to avoid cases. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of HAV vaccine and IG in preventing hepatitis A cases in susceptible exposed people. A retrospective cohort study of contacts of HA cases involved in outbreaks reported in Catalonia between January 2006 and December 2012 was made. The rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of HA in susceptible contacts receiving HAV or IG versus those without PEP were calculated. There were 3550 exposed persons in the outbreaks studied: 2381 received one dose of HAV vaccine (Hepatitis A or hepatitis A+B), 190 received IG, and 611 received no PEP. 368 exposed subjects received one dose of HAV vaccine and IG simultaneously and were excluded from the study. The effectiveness of PEP was 97.6% (95% CI 96.2-98.6) for HAV vaccine and 98.3% (95% CI 91.3-99.9) for IG; the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.36). The elevated effectiveness of HAV vaccination for PEP in HA outbreaks, similar to that of IG, and the long-term protection of active immunization, supports the preferential use of vaccination to avoid secondary cases.

The impact of assumptions regarding vaccine-induced immunity on the public health and cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination: Is one dose sufficient?

Hepatitis A vaccination stimulates memory cells to produce an anamnestic response. In this study, we used a mathematical model to examine how long-term immune memory might convey additional protection against clinical/icteric infections. Dynamic and decision models were used to estimate the expected number of cases, and the costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), respectively. Several scenarios were explored by assuming: (1) varying duration of vaccine-induced immune memory, (2) and/or varying levels of vaccine-induced immune memory protection (IMP), (3) and/or varying levels of infectiousness in vaccinated individuals with IMP. The base case analysis assumed a time horizon of 25 y (2012 - 2036), with additional analyses over 50 and 75 y. The analyses were conducted in the Mexican public health system perspective. In the base case that assumed no vaccine-induced IMP, the 2-dose hepatitis A vaccination strategy was cost-effective compared with the 1-dose strategy over the 3 time horizons. However, it was not cost-effective if we assumed additional IMP durations of at least 10 y in the 25-y horizon. In the 50- and 75-y horizons, the 2-dose strategy was always cost-effective, except when 100% reduction in the probability of icteric Infections, 75% reduction in infectiousness, and mean durations of IMP of at least 50 y were assumed. This analysis indicates that routine vaccination of toddlers against hepatitis A virus would be cost-effective in Mexico using a single-dose vaccination strategy. However, the cost-effectiveness of a second dose depends on the assumptions of additional protection by IMP and the time horizon over which the analysis is performed.

Risk factors for hospitalisation and associated costs among patients with hepatitis A associated with imported pomegranate arils, United States, 2013.

OBJECTIVES: To assess hospitalisation risk factors and economic effects associated with a multistate hepatitis A outbreak in 2013. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Eligible outbreak-related cases confirmed by September 1, 2013, were defined as acute hepatitis symptoms and positive IgM anti-hepatitis A during March 15-August 12 among patients who consumed the food vehicle or had the outbreak genotype. We reviewed medical records, comparing demographic and clinical characteristics among hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients; we used logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with hospitalization. We interviewed patients regarding symptom duration and healthcare usage and estimated per-patient and total costs. Health departments reported outbreak-related personnel hours. RESULTS: Medical records were reviewed for 147/159 (92%) eligible patients; median age was 48 (range: 1-84) years, and 64 (44%) patients were hospitalized. Having any chronic medical condition was independently associated with hospitalisation (odds ratio, 3.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-8.62). Interviews were completed for 114 (72%) eligible patients; estimated per-patient cost of healthcare and productivity loss was $13,467 for hospitalized and $2138 for non-hospitalized patients and $1,304,648 for all 165 outbreak-related cases. State and local public health personnel expenditures included 82 h and $3221/outbreak-related case. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalisations in this outbreak were associated with chronic medical conditions and resulted in substantial healthcare usage and lost productivity. These data can be used to inform future evaluation of expansion of hepatitis A vaccination recommendations to include adults with chronic medical conditions.

Health economic assessment of universal immunization of toddlers against Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in Mexico.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has shifted from high to intermediate endemicity in Mexico, which may increase the risk of clinically significant HAV infections in older children, adolescents and adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-utility of single-dose or 2-dose universal infant HAV vaccination strategy in Mexico, compared with no vaccination. A previously published dynamic model estimated the expected number of HAV cases with each strategy, and a decision model was used to estimate the costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) expected with each strategy. The time horizon was 25 years (2012-2036) and the base case analysis was conducted from the perspective of the Mexican public health system. Costs and QALYs after the first year were discounted at 5% annually. Input data were taken from national databases and published sources where available. The single-dose HAV vaccination strategy had an incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of Mexican peso (MXN) 2,270 per QALY gained, compared with no vaccination. The two-dose strategy had an ICUR of MXN 14,961/QALY compared with no vaccination, and an ICUR of MXN 78,280/QALY compared with the single-dose strategy. The estimated ICURs were below the threshold of 1 x Mexican gross domestic product per capita. When indirect costs were included (societal perspective), the single-dose HAV vaccination strategy would be expected to improve health outcomes and to be cost-saving. This analysis indicates that routine vaccination of toddlers against HAV would be cost-effective in Mexico using either a single-dose or a 2-dose vaccination strategy. GSK study identifier: HO-12-12877.

The Economic Burden of Hepatitis A, B, and C in South Korea.

The prevalence of hepatitis in South Korea is relatively high compared to that in other high-income countries. For this reason, viral hepatitis infection not only affects the population's health, but also impacts national healthcare costs. This study was performed in order to estimate the individual economic costs of the hepatitis A, B, and C viruses as well as to determine, using nationally representative data, the trends in South Korea with respect to these viruses during the 2008-2011 period. The study found that the prevalence of hepatitis A had decreased, but those of hepatitis B and C had increased overall. The mortality rate of hepatitis C was higher than that of the other two types. The mortality rate of hepatitis B had changed little, whereas that of hepatitis C had risen. The total cost of hepatitis A had decreased, from US $62.2 million to US $45.7 million, although a notable exception occurred in 2009, when the cost was US $126.6 million. Conversely, the total cost of hepatitis B had increased rapidly during the same period, from US $501.4 million to US $607.8 million. Finally, the total cost of hepatitis C had also increased from US $63.9 million to US $90.7 million. The direct costs of hepatitis A, B, and C were estimated to account for approximately 35.5%, 46.6%, and 58.0% of the total, respectively. These findings demonstrate the economic burden associated with hepatitis A, B, and C, and demonstrate the need to establish an effective prevention and management policy for future planning in South Korea.

Hepatitis A: epidemiology in resource-poor countries.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is primarily fecal-oral. Symptomatic hepatitis, severe disease, and death are more likely to occur when infection occurs at an older age. Improvements in socioeconomic and hygienic conditions have led to a change in its epidemiology worldwide. RECENT FINDINGS: In the last two decades, improved hygiene in several resource-poor countries has led to reduced transmission of HAV, an increase in average age at infection, and, consequently, a paradoxical increase in morbidity and mortality because of hepatitis A. In Argentina, introduction of one dose (instead of the conventional two doses, to reduce costs) of inactivated HAV vaccine at 12-month age in a universal childhood immunization program during such 'epidemiologic transition' has markedly reduced the incidence of symptomatic hepatitis A, and of fulminant hepatitis and liver transplantation caused by HAV infection. The monetary value of medical and nonmedical benefits of this strategy outweighed the expenditure on vaccination. These excellent results were possibly contingent upon a high vaccination coverage. SUMMARY: Resource-poor countries should closely monitor the epidemiology of HAV infection and periodically undertake cost-effectiveness analyses of HAV immunization strategies. This should allow timely identification of epidemiologic transition and introduction of preventive strategies before HAV infection becomes a public health problem.

Public Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Hepatitis A Vaccination in the United States: A Disease Transmission Dynamic Modeling Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the population-level impact and cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination programs in the United States. METHODS: We developed an age-structured population model of hepatitis A transmission dynamics to evaluate two policies of administering a two-dose hepatitis A vaccine to children aged 12 to 18 months: 1) universal routine vaccination as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in 2006 and 2) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices's previous regional policy of routine vaccination of children living in states with high hepatitis A incidence. Inputs were obtained from the published literature, public sources, and clinical trial data. The model was fitted to hepatitis A seroprevalence (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II and III) and reported incidence from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (1980-1995). We used a societal perspective and projected costs (in 2013 US $), quality-adjusted life-years, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and other outcomes over the period 2006 to 2106. RESULTS: On average, universal routine hepatitis A vaccination prevented 259,776 additional infections, 167,094 outpatient visits, 4781 hospitalizations, and 228 deaths annually. Compared with the regional vaccination policy, universal routine hepatitis A vaccination was cost saving. In scenario analysis, universal vaccination prevented 94,957 infections, 46,179 outpatient visits, 1286 hospitalizations, and 15 deaths annually and had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $21,223/quality-adjusted life-year when herd protection was ignored. CONCLUSIONS: Our model predicted that universal childhood hepatitis A vaccination led to significant reductions in hepatitis A mortality and morbidity. Consequently, universal vaccination was cost saving compared with a regional vaccination policy. Herd protection effects of hepatitis A vaccination programs had a significant impact on hepatitis A mortality, morbidity, and cost-effectiveness ratios.

Economic analysis of the single-dose immunization strategy against hepatitis A in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination against hepatitis A (HA) was carried out only as part of a limited outbreak control strategy in Argentina until June 2005, when universal immunization in infants was introduced into the national immunization calendar. A single-dose strategy was chosen instead of the standard two-dose schedule used elsewhere. This study aimed to estimate preventive, medical, and non-medical costs related to HA and to compare these costs in the periods before and after mass vaccination. METHODS: A retrospective analysis estimated treatment costs of HA and unspecified hepatitis cases reported to the National Health Surveillance System from 2000 to 2010. Costs related to immunization, fulminant hepatitis (FH), liver transplantation, and death were projected as well. Using a social perspective and a healthcare system perspective, costs in two 5-year periods were compared: 2000-2004 versus 2006-2010. Finally, we evaluated the impact of different discount rates, FH risk, and exclusion of unspecified hepatitis cases in the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Total HA and unspecified hepatitis cases decreased from 157,871 in 2000-2004 to 17,784 in 2006-2010. Medical and non-medical costs decreased from US$11,811,600 and US$30,118,222 to US$1,252,694 and US$4,995,895 in those periods, respectively. Immunization costs increased from US$6,506,711 to US$40,912,132. Total preventive, medical, and non-medical costs decreased from US$48,436,534 to US$47,160,721, representing a 2.6% reduction in total costs between the two periods. When a healthcare system perspective was considered or unspecified hepatitis cases were excluded, total costs were 130.2% and 30.8% higher in 2006-2010 than in the previous period, respectively. CONCLUSION: After implementation of the universal single-dose vaccination against HA in infants in Argentina, an impressive decline was observed in HA cases, with a decrease in medical and non-medical costs in the first 5 years. The single-dose strategy, which is simpler and less expensive than the standard two-dose scheme, can be a good alternative for future vaccination policies in other countries where HA is endemic.

Public acceptance and willingness to hepatitis a vaccination in children aged 7-18 years in Republic of Korea.

Hepatitis A can cause serious illness among adolescents and adults with low vaccination coverage. Even though hepatitis A vaccine is one of the strong candidates for Korean national immunization program, adolescents aged older than 12 yr would not benefit. Our purpose was to assess the willingness and analyze the correlates of Korean mothers for hepatitis A (HepA) vaccination to develop strategies for HepA vaccination. A national telephone survey on 800 mothers with children aged 7-18 yr was conducted with random-digit dialing method. Sixty-two percent and 92% of the mothers reported that they were willing to HepA vaccination at current cost and at half of the current cost, respectively. However, at current cost, only 79% wished to vaccinate their child in an epidemic and 32% wished to vaccinate promptly. Having two or more children, not having future plans to send the child overseas, and low family income were significantly associated with not willing to HepA vaccination. Low perception of the susceptibility for hepatitis A and perception of the current cost as barrier increased the odds of unwillingness to vaccination at current cost and to prompt vaccination. The mothers' willingness to HepA vaccination for the children aged 7-18 yr in Korea was not very high at current cost and associated socioeconomic status and health-belief. Targeted intervention or strategies are needed to increase the HepA vaccination rate among children in Korea.

Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination in Indonesia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A immunization in Indonesia, including an explicit comparison between one-dose and two-dose vaccines. METHODS: An age-structured cohort model based on a decision tree was developed for the 2012 Indonesia birth cohort. Using the model, we made a comparison on the use of two-dose and one-dose vaccines. The model involved a 70-year time horizon with 1-month cycles for children less than 2 years old and annually thereafter. Monte Carlo simulations were used to examine the economic acceptability and affordability of the hepatitis A vaccination. RESULTS: Vaccination would save US$ 3,795,148 and US$ 2,892,920 from the societal perspective, for the two-dose and one-dose vaccine schedules, respectively, in the context of hepatitis A treatment. It also would save 8917 and 6614 discounted quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs), respectively. With the vaccine price of US$ 3.21 per dose, the implementation of single dose vaccine would yield an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of US$ 4933 per QALY gained versus no vaccination, whereas the two-dose versus one-dose schedule would cost US$ 14 568 per QALY gained. Considering the 2012 gross-domestic-product (GDP) per capita in Indonesia of US$ 3557, the results indicate that hepatitis A vaccination would be a cost-effective intervention, both for the two-dose and one-dose vaccine schedules in isolation, but two-dose vaccination would no longer be cost-effective if one-dose vaccination is a feasible option. Vaccination would be 100% affordable at budgets of US$ 71,408 000 and US$ 37,690,000 for the implementation of the two-dose and one-dose vaccine schedules, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of hepatitis A vaccination in Indonesia would be a cost-effective health intervention under the market vaccine price. Given the budget limitations, the use of a one-dose-vaccine schedule would be more realistic to be applied than a two-dose schedule. The vaccine price, mortality rate and discount rate were the most influential parameters impacting the ICERs.

Economic evaluations of hepatitis A vaccination in middle-income countries.

Economic evaluations of hepatitis A vaccination are important to assist national and international policy makers in different jurisdictions on making effective decisions. Up to now, a comprehensive review of the potential health and economic benefits on hepatitis A vaccination in middle-income countries (MICs) has not been performed yet. In this study, we reviewed the literature on the cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A vaccination in MICs. Most of the studies confirmed that hepatitis A vaccination was cost effective or even cost saving under certain conditions. We found that vaccine price, medical costs, incidence and discount rate were the most influential parameters on the sensitivity analyses. Vaccine price has been shown as a barrier for MICs in implementing universal vaccination of hepatitis A. Given their relatively limited financial resources, implementation of single-dose vaccination could be considered. Despite our findings, we argue that further economic evaluations in MICs are still required in the near future.