Factors influencing the prioritization of vaccines by policymakers in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.

Vaccination decision making in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has become increasingly complex, particularly in the context of numerous competing health challenges. LMICs have to make difficult choices on which vaccines to prioritize for introduction while considering a wide range of factors such as disease burden, vaccine impact, vaccine characteristics, financing and health care infrastructures, whilst adapting to each country's specific contexts. Our scoping review reviewed the factors that influence decision-making among policymakers for the introduction of new vaccines in LMICs. We identified the specific data points that are factored into the decision-making process for new vaccine introduction, whilst also documenting whether there have been any changes in decision-making criteria in new vaccine introduction over the last two decades. A comprehensive database search was conducted using a search strategy consisting of key terms and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) phrases related to policy, decision-making, vaccine introduction, immunization programmes and LMICs. Articles were screened following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 843 articles were identified, with 34 articles retained after abstract screening, full-text screening and grading with the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT). The Burchett framework for new vaccine introduction was used to identify indicators for vaccine-decision making and guided data extraction. Articles in our study represented a diverse range of perspectives and methodologies. Across articles, the importance of the disease, which included disease burden, costs of disease and political prioritization, coupled with economic factors related to vaccine price, affordability and financing were the most common criteria considered for new vaccine introduction. Our review identified two additional criteria in the decision-making process for vaccine introduction that were not included in the Burchett framework: communication and sociocultural considerations. Data from this review can support informed decision-making for vaccine introduction amongst policymakers and stakeholders in LMICs.

Key decision-making factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program introduction in low-and-middle-income-countries: Global and national stakeholder perspectives.

Low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) experience a high burden of cervical cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents high-risk strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer; however, the integration of HPV vaccines into national immunization programs within many LMICs has been suboptimal. Our study evaluated key factors that drive the decision-making process for the implementation of HPV vaccine programs in LMICs. Stakeholder analysis and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with national and global stakeholders. Interview data were analyzed through qualitative descriptive methods. Findings from our study revealed the decision-making process for HPV vaccines requires the involvement of multiple institutions and stakeholders from national and global levels, with decision-making being a country-specific process. Partner considerations, locally driven processes, availability of data, and infrastructure and resource considerations were found to be critical factors in the decision-making process. Future programs should evaluate the best approaches for investing in initiatives to enhance coordination, ensure vaccine introduction is locally driven, increase the availability of data needed for decision-making, and equip countries with the necessary resources to guide country decision-making in the face of increasingly complex decision-making environments.