Cost minimization analysis of a hexavalent vaccine in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Argentina currently uses a pentavalent vaccine containing diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whole cell), Haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B antigens, administered concomitantly with the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) (DTwP-Hib-HB plus IPV) in its childhood vaccination schedule. However, hexavalent vaccines containing acellular pertussis antigens (DTaP-Hib-HB-IPV) and providing protection against the same diseases are also licensed, but are only available with a private prescription or for high-risk pre-term infants in the public health program. We analyzed the cost of switching from the current schedule to the alternative schedule with the hexavalent vaccine in Argentina, assuming similar levels of effectiveness. METHODS: The study population was infants ≤ 1 year of age born in Argentina from 2015 to 2019. The analysis considered adverse events, programmatic, logistic, and vaccine costs of both schemes from the societal perspective. The societal costs were disaggregated to summarize costs incurred in the public sector and with vaccination pre-term infants in the public sector. Costs were expressed in 2021 US Dollars (US$). RESULTS: Although the cost of vaccines with the alternative scheme would be US$39.8 million (M) more than with the current scheme, these additional costs are in large part offset by fewer adverse event-associated costs and lower programmatic costs such that the overall cost of the alternative scheme would only be an additional US$3.6 M from the societal perspective. The additional cost associated with switching to the alternative scheme in the public sector and with the vaccination of pre-term infants in the public sector would be US$2.1 M and US$84,023, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The switch to an alternative scheme with the hexavalent vaccine in Argentina would result in marginally higher vaccine costs, which are mostly offset by the lower costs associated with improved logistics, fewer separate vaccines, and a reduction in adverse events.

Valuing the cost of improving Chilean primary vaccination: a cost minimization analysis of a hexavalent vaccine.

BACKGROUND: The phased withdrawal of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is central to the polio 'end-game' strategy. METHODS: We analyzed the cost implications in Chile of a switch from the vaccination scheme consisting of a pentavalent vaccine with whole-cell pertussis component (wP) plus IPV/OPV vaccines to a scheme with a hexavalent vaccine with acellular pertussis component (aP) and IPV (Hexaxim®) from a societal perspective. Cost data were collected from a variety of sources including national estimates and previous vaccine studies. All costs were expressed in 2017 prices (US$ 1.00 = $Ch 666.26). RESULTS: The overall costs associated with the vaccination scheme (4 doses of pentavalent vaccine plus 1 dose IPV and 3 doses OPV) from a societal perspective was estimated to be US$ 12.70 million, of which US$ 8.84 million were associated with the management of adverse events related to wP. In comparison, the cost associated with the 4-dose scheme with a hexavalent vaccine (based upon the PAHO reference price) was US$ 19.76 million. The cost of switching to the hexavalent vaccine would be an additional US$ 6.45 million. Overall, depending on the scenario, the costs of switching to the hexavalent scheme would range from an additional US$ 2.62 million to US$ 6.45 million compared with the current vaccination scheme. CONCLUSIONS: The switch to the hexavalent vaccine schedule in Chile would lead to additional acquisition costs, which would be partially offset by improved logistics, and a reduction in adverse events associated with the current vaccines.

Switching from trivalent to quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines in Uruguay: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

We evaluated the cost-utility of replacing trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) with quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) in the current target populations in Uruguay. An existing decision-analytic static cost-effectiveness model was adapted for Uruguay. The population was stratified into age groups. Costs and outcomes were estimated for an average influenza season, based on observed rates from 2013 to 2019 inclusive. Introducing QIV instead of TIV in Uruguay would avoid around 740 additional influenza cases, 500 GP consultations, 15 hospitalizations, and three deaths, and save around 300 workdays, for the same vaccination coverage during an average influenza season. Most of the influenza-related consultations and hospitalizations would be avoided among children ≤4 and adults ≥65 years of age. Using QIV rather than TIV would cost an additional ~US$729,000, but this would be partially offset by savings in consultations and hospitalization costs. The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained with QIV would be in the order of US$18,000 for both the payor and societal perspectives, for all age groups, and around US$12,000 for adults ≥65 years of age. The main drivers influencing the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were the vaccine efficacy against the B strains and the percentage of match each season with the B strain included in TIV. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that switching to QIV would provide a favorable cost-utility ratio for 50% of simulations at a willingness-to-pay per QALY of US$20,000. A switch to QIV is expected to be cost-effective for the current target populations in Uruguay, particularly for older adults.

Estimación del presupuesto de vacunas del PAI-Paraguay 2007-2022 y el impacto de posibles cambios / Estimation of the Vaccination Budget for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)- Paraguay 2007-2022 and the Impact of Possible Changes / Estimativa do orçamento de vacinas do PAI-Paraguai 2007 - 2022 e o impacto de possíveis mudanças

Introducción: el programa de vacunación es una intervención de salud pública cuyo propósito es controlar o eliminar enfermedades inmunoprevenibles. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la evolución del presupuesto en vacunas entre 2007 y 2022, y el impacto de potenciales mejoras en el calendario de vacunaciones de Paraguay. Método: se estimó la evolución del presupuesto en vacunas según los cambios entre 2007 y 2022, y el impacto de esquemas alternativos versus el actual, que incluyen la vacuna contra la influenza cuádruple, séxtuple en lactantes, el agregado de la vacuna contra papiloma en varones y meningococo ACYW en adolescentes. La perspectiva del análisis fue la del Ministerio de Salud Pública y el horizonte temporal de un año. Los resultados de las alternativas se expresan como impacto presupuestal versus el año 2022. Resultados: entre 2007 y 2022 la cantidad de biológicos del Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones pasó de 11 a 18 e incorporó indicaciones de algunas vacunas. Se estima que el presupuesto se incrementó de 3,8 a 29,9 millones de dólares entre los extremos de la serie. Las alternativas implicarían un incremento de 13%, 35%, 5% y 10%, individualmente. El incremento en conjunto alcanza el 62%. Conclusiones: el aumento del gasto en vacunas fue de ocho veces entre 2007 y 2022. Se estima el impacto presupuestal en diferentes escenarios que se interpretan como mejoras comparadas con el actual de 2022, siendo el incremento más exigente de un 35%. La evidencia generada puede colaborar en el proceso de toma de decisiones acerca de esta política pública en Paraguay.

Introduction: the vaccination program is a public health intervention aimed at controlling or eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases. The objective of the study was to estimate the evolution of the vaccine budget between 2007 and 2022 and the impact of potential improvements in Paraguay's vaccination schedule. Method: the evolution of the vaccine budget was estimated considering the changes introduced between 2007 and 2022 and the impact of alternative schedules versus the current one. These alternatives include the addition of the quadrivalent influenza vaccine, the hexavalent vaccine for infants, the inclusion of the HPV vaccine for boys, and the ACYW meningococcal ACYW vaccine for adolescents. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of the Ministry of Health, with a time horizon of one year. The results of the alternatives are expressed as budget impact compared to the year 2022. Results: between 2007 and 2022, the number of biological products in the EPI increased from 11 to 18, and additional indications for some vaccines were incorporated. The budget is estimated to have increased from 3.8 to 29.9 million USD over the series. The alternatives would result in individual increases of 13%, 35%, 5%, and 10%. The combined increase reaches 62%. Conclusions: the increase in vaccine expenditure was eightfold between 2007 and 2022. The budget impact was estimated in different scenarios, interpreted as improvements compared to the current 2022 scenario, with the most demanding increase being 35%. The generated evidence can assist in the decision-making process regarding this public policy in Paraguay.

Introdução: o programa de vacinação é uma intervenção de saúde pública cuja finalidade é controlar ou eliminar doenças imunopreveníveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a evolução do orçamento de vacinas entre 2007 e 2022 e o impacto de possíveis melhorias no cronograma de vacinação do Paraguai. Métodos: estimamos a evolução do orçamento de vacinas de acordo com as mudanças ocorridas entre 2007 e 2022 e o impacto de esquemas alternativos em relação ao atual, que incluem a vacina quádrupla contra a gripe, a sextupla em bebês, a adição da vacina contra o papilomavírus em homens e a vacina meningocócica ACYW em adolescentes. A perspectiva da análise foi a do Ministerio de Salud e o intervalo de tempo foi de um ano. Os resultados das alternativas são expressos como impacto orçamentário em relação a 2022. Resultados: Entre 2007 e 2022, o número de produtos biológicos do PAI aumentou de 11 para 18 e incorporou indicações para algumas vacinas. Estima-se que o orçamento tenha aumentado de US$ 3,8 milhões para US$ 29,9 milhões entre os extremos da série. As alternativas implicariam em um aumento de 13%, 35%, 5% e 10% individualmente. O aumento geral chega a 62%. Conclusões: o aumento nos gastos com vacinas foi de oito vezes entre 2007-2022. O impacto orçamentário é estimado em diferentes cenários que são interpretados como melhorias em comparação com o cenário de 2022, sendo que o aumento mais exigente é de 35%. As evidências geradas podem contribuir para o processo de tomada de decisão relacionado a essa política pública no Paraguai.

Servicios de salud en el Uruguay / Health service in Uruguay

Este artículo describe las principales características de los servicios de atención a la salud del Uruguay. Se hace un breve análisis del contexto socio-histórico en el cual se constituye el Uruguay moderno y la conformación original de la atención sanitaria. Se describen las principales características demográficas y epidemiológicas y su tendencia a lo largo del siglo XX. Se describen los subsectores público y privado, responsables de la atención de la salud de la población. Cada uno de ellos, con gasto muy diferente y por lo tanto, con recursos muy diferentes, logran resultados obviamente distintos. Se analizan las principales tendencias en el subsector privado. Se concluye con un decálogo de "patologías" del sistema y se sugieren las líneas que debieron recorrerse para el logro de la universalidad y equidad