Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in a privately funded program in Ghana: A qualitative case study.

HPV vaccination is one of the safest and most effective interventions against HPV-related cancers. From 2013 to 2018, HPV vaccination was piloted in Ghana in preparation for a national program. Yet, at the time of this study, there was no publicly funded HPV vaccination program in Ghana. We explored an existing privately funded HPV vaccination program in Ghana to identify challenges and gaps and to gather insights to inform vaccination practice and national policy. This study used a qualitative case study research design. We conducted semi-structured interviews on experiences, barriers, and challenges in HPV vaccination at the Greater-Accra Regional Hospital between October 1 and November 26, 2023. Participants (N = 16) included HPV vaccinators (n = 8) and program/policy leaders (n = 8). Our thematic analysis focused on HPV vaccination processes, practice challenges, and policy interests. Four main themes emerged from our analyses. Our findings revealed many challenges faced by the HPV vaccination program. These include a lack of guiding policy/framework for the HPV vaccination program, an emphasis on sexual history, cervical screening, and HPV DNA test in determining vaccination eligibility by vaccinators, and a lack of formal provider and recipient HPV education programs. Although many vaccinators advocated for a universal HPV program, some policy/program leaders were reluctant to prioritize HPV vaccination advocacy due to their focus on acute health concerns. A vaccination program without a policy can be limited in quality and efficiency, as there will be no accountability and sustainability measures. We recommend the need to develop standardized guidelines to support evidence-based HPV vaccination practice.

Assessing willingness to pay for children's COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare providers and users using a theory-based discrete choice experiment.

Improving vaccine coverage among children is crucial to prevent the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections and the emergence of resistant COVID-19 variants, especially in resource-scarce settings. This study determined factors influencing the willingness to take and pay for COVID-19 vaccine for children among Vietnamese healthcare professionals and the public. A Theory-Based discrete-choice experiment was focused on a different topic related to vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine for children, Monkeypox, the adult COVID-19 booster, the HIV vaccine, and a potential future pandemic. The recruitment period was from April to August 2022, and a total of 5700 Vietnamese individuals aged 16 and above from various regions of the country participated in the study. The data for the sub-study on the COVID-19 vaccination for children was completed by 891 of these participants. Most participants agreed on vaccination for all children. Among healthcare professionals it was 76.2% and 69.3% for the general population. Healthcare professionals were the main source of vaccine information (70.7%). Payment options of 50%, 100%, and full subsidy were the most popular. Concerns about vaccine characteristics were associated with lower acceptance among healthcare professionals and the general public. The burden of historical medical expenses negatively correlated with willingness to pay for vaccination, while service satisfaction positively correlated with willingness to pay. To develop an effective vaccination program among children in Vietnam, providing accurate information and satisfying vaccine services, primarily through knowledgeable and professional healthcare providers, can improve the willingness to vaccinate and pay for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The global health and economic value of COVID-19 vaccination.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered one of the largest global health and economic crises in recent history. COVID-19 vaccination (CV) has been the central tool for global health and macroeconomic recovery, yet estimates of CV's global health and macroeconomic value remain scarce. METHODS: We used regression analyses to measure the impact of CV on gross domestic product (GDP), infections and deaths. We combined regression estimates of vaccine-averted infections and deaths with estimates of quality-adjusted life years (QALY) losses, and direct and indirect costs, to estimate three broad value components: (i) QALY gains, (ii) direct and indirect costs averted and (iii) GDP impacts. The global value is the sum of components over 148 countries between January 2020 and December 2021 for CV generally and for Pfizer-BioNTech specifically. RESULTS: CV's global value was US$5.2 (95% CI US$4.1 to US$6.2) trillion, with Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccines contributing over US$1.9 (95% CI US$1.5 to US$2.3) trillion. Varying key parameters results in values 10%-20% higher or lower than the base-case value. The largest value component was GDP impacts, followed by QALY gains, then direct and indirect costs averted. CV provided US$740 of value per dose, while Pfizer-BioNTech specifically provided >US$1600 per dose. We estimated conservative benefit-cost ratios of 13.9 and 30.8 for CV and Pfizer-BioNTech, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We provide the first estimates of the broad value of CV incorporating GDP, QALY and direct and indirect cost impacts. Through December 2021, CV produced significant health and economic value, represented strong value for money and produced significant macroeconomic benefits that should be considered in vaccine evaluation.

Cost effectiveness analysis comparing varying booster intervals of vaccination policies to address COVID-19 situation in Thailand, 2023.

The COVID-19 booster immunization policy is cost-effective, but evidence on additional booster doses and appropriate strategies is scarce. This research compared the cost-effectiveness of annual, twice-a-year, and biennial booster dose policies. We performed stochastic modeling using compartmental susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered models and a system dynamic model. We evaluated four policy scenarios: (1) hypothetical no-booster immunization policy; (2) twice-a-year vaccination policy; (3) annual vaccination policy; and (4) biennial vaccination policy. In addition, we conducted a one-way sensitivity analysis by adjusting R0 from 1.8 to 3.0 in all scenarios (epidemic stage) and by decreasing the vaccination cost by 50% at the end of the first year to reflect the current policy direction to enhance domestic vaccine production. Compared to non-booster policies, all three booster strategies reduced the number of cases, hospital admissions, and severe infections remarkably. Without a booster, total cases would reach 16,220,615 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6,726,550-29,661,112) by day 1,460, whereas, with a twice-a-year booster, the total cases would reach 597,901 (95% CI 526,230-694,458) in the same period. Even though the no booster scenario exhibited the lowest cost by approximately the first 500 days, by day 1,460 the biennial booster scenario demonstrated the lowest cost at 72.0 billion baht (95% CI 68.6-79.4 billion). The most cost-saving policy was the biennial booster scenario. The annual booster scenario also stood as a cost-effective option for most outcomes. In the epidemic stage and in an assumption where the vaccination costs dropped, all booster policies became more cost-effective or cost-saving compared with the main assumption. This study underscores the significance of the COVID-19 vaccine booster policy. Implementing policies should take into consideration cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and public communication.

Jurisdiction-level costs of the initial phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program in the United States, December 20, 2020-May 31, 2021.

This study aimed to quantify U.S. jurisdiction-level costs related to the COVID-19 Vaccination Program by estimating the per-dose-administered cost during December 20, 2020-May 31, 2021, from a combined federal and local government perspective. Costs were limited to vaccine purchase, administration (including operations and wastage), and local redistribution by jurisdictions. Data were collected through publicly available sources, published literature, and a survey of 62 jurisdictions (38 responded). A total of 284.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were distributed to jurisdictions during the study period, of which 284.2 million doses were administered, and 0.4 million doses were wasted. The estimated cost per-dose-administered among the 38 jurisdictions that responded to study survey was $57.45 and imputed cost across all jurisdictions was $63.11. The findings on jurisdiction-level cost per-dose-administered and vaccination cost during the initial period of U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program, when demand exceeded supply, may be considered in future pandemic preparedness planning.

Cost-effectiveness of vaccinating adults aged 60 years and older against respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes substantial morbidity and mortality in older adults. In May 2023, two subunit RSV vaccines (Arexvy [GSK] and Abrysvo [Pfizer]) received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In June 2023, ACIP recommended that adults aged ≥60 years may receive a single dose of RSV vaccine, using shared clinical decision-making. In support of development of this policy, our objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of RSV vaccination in the general population in this age group. We used a decision-analytical model of RSV over a two-year timeframe using data from published literature, FDA documents, epidemiological databases, and manufacturer data. We tracked RSV-associated outpatient, emergency department, inpatient healthcare utilization, RSV-attributable deaths, quality-adjusted life-years lost (QALYs), and societal costs. The societal cost per QALY saved from RSV vaccination depended on age group and product: adults aged ≥60 years, $196,842 for GSK's vaccine and $176,557 for Pfizer's vaccine; adults ≥65 years, $162,138 for GSK and $146,543 for Pfizer; adults 60- <65 years, $385,829 for GSK and $331,486 for Pfizer. Vaccine efficacy, incidence of RSV hospitalization, and vaccine cost had the greatest influence on cost per QALY. Cost per QALY saved decreased as the age of those vaccinated increased. Inputs such as long-term efficacy are uncertain. RSV vaccination in adults aged ≥60 years may be cost-effective, particularly in those of more advanced age. Lower vaccine acquisition costs and persistent efficacy beyond two RSV seasons would render RSV vaccination more cost-effective for a broader target population. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Economic evaluation on meningococcal vaccination strategies among children under nine years of age in Zhejiang province, China.

Meningococcal vaccination in Chinese national immunization program (NIP) includes polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A (MPV-A) and polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A and C(MPV-AC). This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of an alternative strategy using polysaccharide conjugate vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A,C,W,Y(MCV-ACWY) and polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A,C,W,Y(MPV-ACWY). From a societal perspective, we constructed a decision tree-Markov model to simulate the economic and health consequences of meningococcal disease in a 2023 birth cohort with the current meningococcal vaccination strategy and the alternative. Parameters of epidemiology, vaccine efficacy, cost, and utility were extracted from database and previous literatures. The sensitivity analysis was implemented to evaluate the robustness of the model. Compared to the current practice, the alternative strategy could avoid 513 meningococcal disease cases, 53 sequelae and 47 deaths. The ICER was estimated at $16899.81 /QALY, under the threshold of one time of the GDP per capita of Zhejiang province in 2023. The incidence of meningococcemia, the incidence of meningococcal meningitis, the case fatality of meningococcemia, the vaccine efficacy of MCV-ACWY and the price of MCV-ACWY would influence the cost-effectiveness of the meningococcal vaccination strategies. At the threshold, the probability of cost-effectiveness was 14.76% for the current strategy and 55.98% for the alternative strategy, respectively. The current meningococcal vaccination strategy had effectively prevented meningococcal disease at a low cost, but with limited serogroup coverage. Strategy using MCV-ACWY and MPV-ACWY could increase health benefits at a substantial cost at a cost-effective manner.

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccination strategies for older Canadian adults: a cost-utility analysis.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines could reduce disease burden and costs in older Canadian adults, but vaccination program cost-effectiveness is unknown. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of different age cut-offs for RSV adult vaccination programs, with or without a focus on people with higher disease risk due to chronic medical conditions. METHODS: We developed a static individual-based model of medically attended RSV disease to compare alternative age-, medical risk-, and age-plus medical risk-based vaccination policies. The model followed a multiage population of 100 000 people aged 50 years and older. Vaccine characteristics were based on RSV vaccines authorized in Canada as of May 2024, with vaccine protection assumed to last 2 years (or 3 years in scenario analyses). We calculated sequential incremental cost-effectiveness ratios in 2023 Canadian dollars per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) from the health-system and societal perspectives, discounted at 1.5%. RESULTS: Although all vaccination strategies averted medically attended RSV disease, universal age-based strategies were not an efficient use of resources compared with medical risk-based strategies. Vaccinating adults aged 70 years and older with 1 or more chronic medical condition was the optimal strategy for a cost-effectiveness threshold of $50 000 per QALY. Results were sensitive to assumptions about vaccine price, but medical risk-based approaches remained optimal compared with age-based strategies, even when vaccine prices were low. Findings were robust to a range of alternative assumptions. INTERPRETATION: Vaccination programs for RSV in some groups of older Canadians with underlying medical conditions are likely cost-effective. These findings can inform the design of vaccination programs.

Cost-benefit analysis of the National Immunization Program in Spain.

Broad benefits of vaccination programs are well acknowledged but difficult to measure, especially when considering all vaccines included in a National Immunization Program (NIP). The aim was to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the entire NIP in Spain, and an expanded NIP including four potential additional programs. A cost-benefit analysis was performed in Excel to assess the economic and health benefits (€) of vaccinating a single cohort of newborns over a lifetime horizon compared to no vaccination, from a societal perspective: firstly, according to the 2020 NIP in Spain (including 2021 recommendation for herpes zoster in 65-year-olds); and secondly, with an expanded NIP (adding rotavirus and meningococcal B in infants, and pertussis booster in adults aged >65 years and herpes zoster in all adults >50 years). The main inputs were taken from published literature and Spanish databases. Results were presented as a benefit-cost ratio (economic benefit per €1 invested). A cohort of 343,126 newborns were included in the analysis. The total investment needed to vaccinate the cohort throughout their lifetime, according to the 2020 NIP and the expanded NIP, was estimated at €168.5 million and €275.5 million, respectively. Potential economic benefits were €772.2 million and €803.0 million, respectively. The societal benefit-cost ratio was €4.58 and €2.91 per €1 invested, respectively. Even with the addition of new vaccination programs, the Spanish NIP yielded positive benefit-cost ratios from the societal perspective, demonstrating that NIPs spanning the full life course are an efficient public health measure.

Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Herpes Zoster Vaccination Among Chinese Adults: Discrete Choice Experiment.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) is rapidly increasing, causing both clinical and economic burdens in China. Very little is known about Chinese residents' HZ vaccine preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for each vaccination attribute. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elicit the preferences of Chinese urban adults (aged 25 years or older) regarding HZ vaccination programs and to calculate WTP for each vaccination attribute. METHODS: In this study, we interviewed 2864 residents in 9 cities in China. A discrete choice experiment was conducted to investigate the residents' preferences for HZ vaccination and to predict the uptake rate for different vaccine scenarios. A mixed logit model was used to estimate the preferences and WTP for each attribute. Seven attributes with different levels were included in the experiment, and we divided the coefficients of other attributes by the coefficient of price to measure WTP. RESULTS: Vaccine effectiveness, protection duration, risk of side effects, place of origin, and cost were proven to influence Chinese adults' preferences for HZ vaccination. The effectiveness of the HZ vaccine was the attribute that had the most predominant impact on residents' preferences, followed by protection duration. The residents were willing to pay CN ¥974 (US $145) to increase the vaccine effectiveness from 45% to 90%, and they would barely pay to exchange the vaccination schedule from 2 doses to 1 dose. It is suggested that the expected uptake could be promoted the most (by 20.84%) with an increase in the protection rate from 45% to 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese urban adults made trade-offs between vaccine effectiveness, protection duration, place of origin, side effects, and cost of HZ vaccination. Vaccine effectiveness was the most important characteristic. The residents have the highest WTP (CN ¥974; US $145) for enhancing the effectiveness of vaccines. To maximize HZ vaccine uptake, health authorities should promote vaccine effectiveness.

Modeling the potential public health impact of different vaccination strategies with an adapted vaccine in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccines adapted to newly emerging circulating variants are necessary to better protect the population due to the evolving nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The South African population was stratified by age and risk (defined by comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, cancer, and asthma), and HIV status. The outcomes of different vaccination strategies based on age, risk, and HIV status were estimated using a Markov-decision tree model based on age-specific inputs derived from the literature and South African surveillance data. RESULTS: Vaccinating older adults and those with comorbidities was estimated to avert 111,179 infections 18,281 hospitalizations, and 3,868 deaths, resulting in savings of ZAR 1,260 million (USD 67 million) and ZAR 3,205 million (USD 170 million) in direct and indirect costs, respectively. Similar results were obtained when considering strategies targeting older adults and the HIV population. Expanding vaccination to 75% of the standard-risk population prevented more infections (401%), hospitalizations (167%), and deaths (67%) and increased the direct (232%) and indirect (455%) cost savings compared to the base case. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing widespread vaccination strategies that utilize a vaccine adapted to the prevailing circulating variant in South Africa would result in significant public health and economic gains.

Respiratory syncytial virus immunization patterns in Germany, 2015-2020.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in infants and young children worldwide. Using routine statutory health insurance claims data including patients from all regions of Germany, we investigated the health-care resource use and costs associated with RSV prophylaxis with palivizumab in Germany. In the database, infants from the birth cohorts 2015-2019 eligible for palivizumab immunization were identified using codes of the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Health-care resource use and costs related to immunization were determined by inpatient and outpatient administrations. Over the study period, only 1.3% of infants received at least one dose of palivizumab in their first year of life. The mean number of doses per immunized infant was 4.6. From a third-party payer perspective, the mean costs of palivizumab per infant who received at least one dose in the first year of life was €5,435 in the birth cohorts 2015-2019. Despite the substantial risk of severe RSV infection, we found low rates of palivizumab utilization. Novel preventive interventions, featuring broader indications and single-dose administration per season, contribute to mitigating the burden of RSV disease across a more extensive infant population.

Updating and Refining of Economic Evaluation of Rotavirus Vaccination in Spain: A Cost-Utility and Budget Impact Analysis.

Two vaccines against rotavirus diseases, Rotarix® and RotaTeq®, are being marketed in Spain; but rotavirus is not presently among the diseases covered by universal vaccination in Spain. The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of extending Spain's current targeted rotavirus vaccination strategy including only preterm babies, to a policy of universal vaccination. A de novo cohort-based Markov model was built to evaluate the efficiency of three compared rotavirus vaccination strategies in Spain: targeted, universal, and no vaccination. Using Rotarix® or RotaTeq®, we compared the cost-utility of these strategies from both a societal perspective and Spanish National Health System (SNHS) perspective. The model represents the most important clinical events conceivably linked to rotavirus infection. Efficacy, effectiveness, safety, costs, and utilities were identified by systematic reviews. Incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) is EUR 23,638/QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year) for targeted vaccination with Rotarix® compared with no vaccination. The ICUR for the rest of the strategies evaluated are above EUR 30,000/QALY. The sensitivity analysis shows price as the only parameter that could make the universal vaccination strategy efficient. Considering a threshold of EUR 25,000/QALY, only targeted vaccination with Rotarix® would be efficient from societal perspective. Price drops of 36.9% for Rotarix® and 44.6% for RotaTeq® would make universal vaccination efficient.

The broader benefits of vaccines: methodologies for inclusion in economic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: As the societal value of vaccines is increasingly recognized, there is a need to examine methodological approaches that could be used to integrate these various benefits in the economic evaluation of a vaccine. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A literature review and two expert panel meetings explored methodologies to value herd immunity, health spillover effects (beyond herd immunity), impact on antimicrobial resistance, productivity, and equity implications of vaccines. RESULTS: The consideration of broader benefits of vaccines in economic evaluation is complicated and necessitates technical expertise. Whereas methodologies to account for herd immunity and work productivity are relatively well established, approaches to investigate equity implications are developing and less frequently applied. Modeling the potential impact on antimicrobial resistance not only depends on the multi-faceted causal relationship between vaccination and resistance but also on data availability. CONCLUSIONS: Different methods are available to value the broad impact of vaccines, and it is important that analysts are aware of their strengths and limitations and justify their choice of method. In the future, we expect that an increasing number of economic evaluations will consider the broader benefits of vaccines as part of their base-case analysis or in sensitivity analyses.

Sustainability of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in Ghana: a cost-effectiveness analysis in the context of donor transition.

Background: Streptococcus pneumonia is responsible for 18% of infant deaths in Ghana. With co-financing from Gavi in 2012, Ghana introduced the PCV13 into the childhood immunization programme to reduce the burden of Streptococcus pneumonia. However, Ghana will graduate to the Gavi fully self-financing phase in 2026, when the nation assumes full responsibility of paying for the PCV13. This research aims to evaluate the health impact and cost-effectiveness of PCV13 immunization in Ghana since its implementation and after the cessation of support from Gavi. Methods: We used the UNIVAC tool to evaluate two main scenarios of cost-effectiveness, from vaccine introduction (2012-2025) and after Gavi transition (2026-2031) in comparison with no vaccination. The sources of data include national data, international estimates and expert opinion. Cost was considered from both the government and societal perspectives. We discounted health outcomes at 3%. Currency values were stated in US Dollars. We tested the robustness of the base case results by performing scenario and sensitivity analyses. Results: PCV13 will reduce the pneumococcal disease burden by 48% from 2012 to 2031. The vaccination programme costs are USD 130 million and USD 275 million in 2012-2025 and 2026-2031 respectively. It also has a budget impact of USD 280 million for the 2026-2031 period from the perspective of government. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are USD 89 and USD 73 respectively from the perspectives of government and society in 2012-2025. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios are USD 530 and USD 510 respectively from the perspectives of government and society in 2026-2031. Conclusion: The PCV13 vaccination programme in Ghana is cost-effective at 50% GDP per capita threshold even when Gavi withdraws co-financing support from 2026 onwards.

Influenza vaccination for heart failure patients: a cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of Chinese healthcare system.

Purpose: Influenza infection induces cardiovascular events in heart failure (HF) patients, with potential risk reduction through vaccination. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination for HF patients in China. Methods: We developed a Markov model with a 3-month cycle to simulate the cost-effectiveness of administering the influenza vaccine to patients with HF over a 3-year period. Patients in the model received either the influenza vaccine or a placebo, in addition to standard HF treatment. Cost data, sourced from the China Healthcare Statistic Yearbook and other public records, and effectiveness data from the IVVE (Influenza Vaccine to Prevent Adverse Vascular Events in HF) trial, were incorporated. Specifically, the cost of the influenza vaccine was 75 Chinese Yuan (CNY) (11 USD), the cost of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) was 9,326 CNY (1,386 USD), and the cost of treatment for pneumonia was 5,984 CNY (889 USD). The study's primary outcome, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), quantifies the incremental cost (CNY and USD) per incremental quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Additional outcomes included total cost, total effectiveness, incremental cost, and incremental effectiveness. We conducted one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) to assess certainty and uncertainty, respectively. Scenario analysis, considering various situations, was performed to evaluate the robustness of the results. Results: In the base case analysis, influenza vaccine, compared to placebo, among Chinese HF patients, resulted in a cost increase from 21,004 CNY (3,121 USD) to 21,062 CNY (3,130 USD) and in QALYs from 1.89 to 1.92 (2.55 life years vs. 2.57 life years) per patient. The resulting ICER was 2,331 CNY (346 USD) per QALY [2,080 CNY (309 USD) per life year], falling below the willingness-to-pay threshold based on per capita GDP. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that disparities in HHF and cardiovascular death rates between groups had the most significant impact on the ICER, while the cost of vaccines had a marginal impact. PSA and scenario analysis collectively affirmed the robustness of our findings. Conclusion: This study suggests that adding the influenza vaccine to standard treatment regimens for Chinese patients with HF may represent a highly cost-effective option. Further real-world data studies are essential to validate these findings.

Modeling the potential public health and economic impact of different COVID-19 booster dose vaccination strategies with an adapted vaccine in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Updating vaccines is essential for combatting emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variants. This study assessed the public health and economic impact of a booster dose of an adapted vaccine in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS: A Markov-decision tree model estimated the outcomes of vaccination strategies targeting various age and risk groups in the UK. Age-specific data derived from published sources were used. The model estimated case numbers, deaths, hospitalizations, medical costs, and societal costs. Scenario analyses were conducted to explore uncertainty. RESULTS: Vaccination targeting individuals aged ≥ 65 years and the high-risk population aged 12-64 years was estimated to avert 701,549 symptomatic cases, 5,599 deaths, 18,086 hospitalizations, 56,326 post-COVID condition cases, and 38,263 lost quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), translating into direct and societal cost savings of £112,174,054 and £542,758,682, respectively. The estimated economically justifiable price at willingness-to-pay thresholds of £20,000 and £30,000 per QALY was £43 and £61, respectively, from the payer perspective and £64 and £82, respectively, from the societal perspective. Expanding to additional age groups improved the public health impact. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting individuals aged ≥ 65 years and those aged 12-64 years at high risk yields public health gains, but expansion to additional age groups provides additional gains.

Effectiveness of influenza vaccination on hospitalization outcomes among older patients with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: In older populations admitted for diabetes, limited evidence suggests that influenza vaccination protects against hospitalization outcomes. METHODS: This study pooled 27,620 hospitalizations recorded for elderly diabetes patients from the Beijing Elderly Influenza Vaccination Information Registration Database (2013-2018) and the Beijing Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance Database (2013-2018). Generalized linear regression and propensity score matching were conducted to estimate the effects of influenza vaccination on hospitalization outcomes (in-hospital all-cause mortality, readmission, length and costs of hospitalization), adjusting for measurable confounding factors. The low influenza period (May-July) was used as a reference period to adjust for unmeasured confounding factors during the peak influenza period (November-January). RESULTS: In propensity score matching, influenza vaccination in peak influenza period could reduce the risk of in-hospital death (OR: 0.47[0.22,0.97]) and readmission (OR: 0.70[0.60,0.81]), length of hospitalization (ß: -1.32[-1.47, -1.17]) and medical costs (GMR: 0.90[0.88,0.92]). After adjusting for unmeasured confounding factors, influenza vaccination was associated with 17% (ratio of ORs: 0.83 [0.69, 1.02]) lower risk of readmission and shorter length of hospitalization (difference in ß: -0.23 [-0.62, 0.16]). The subgroup analyses showed that male patients with older age and poorer health conditions could benefit more after influenza vaccination. CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccination could significantly improve hospitalization outcomes in elderly diabetic patients. This provides evidence supporting free influenza vaccination policies for vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries.

Assessing farmers' willingness to pay for FMD vaccines and factors influencing payment: a contingent valuation study in central Oromia, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Foot and mouth disease is a contagious, transboundary, and economically devastating viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals. The disease can cause many consequences, including decreased productivity, limited market access, and elimination of flocks or herds. This study aimed to assess farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccines and identify factors influencing their WTP. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on 396 randomly selected livestock-owning farmers from three districts in the central Oromia region (Ambo, Dendi, and Holeta districts. The study utilized the contingent valuation method, specifically employing dichotomous choice bids with double bounds, to evaluate the willingness to pay (WTP) for the FMD vaccine. Mean WTP was assessed using interval regression, and influential factors were identified. RESULTS: The study revealed that the farmer's mean willingness to pay for a hypothetical foot and mouth disease vaccine was 37.5 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) [95% confidence interval [CI]: 34.5 40.58] in all data, while it was 23.84 (95% CI: 21.47-26.28) in the mixed farming system and 64.87 Ethiopian Birr (95% CI: 58.68 71.15) in the market-oriented farming system. We identified main livelihood, management system, sales income, breed, keeping animals for profit, and foot and mouth disease impact perception score as significant variables (p ≤ 0.05) determining the farmers' WTP for the FMD vaccine. CONCLUSION: Farmers demonstrated a high computed willingness to pay, which can be considered an advantage in the foot and mouth disease vaccination program in central Oromia. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure sufficient vaccine supply services to meet the high demand revealed.

Cost-effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination in WHO-defined high-risk populations in Bangladesh.

Background: Bangladesh carries a substantial health and economic burden of seasonal influenza, particularly among the World Health Organization (WHO)-defined high-risk populations. We implemented a modelling study to determine the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination in each of five high-risk groups (pregnant women, children under five years of age, adults with underlying health conditions, older adults (≥60 years), and healthcare personnel) to inform policy decisions on risk group prioritisation for influenza vaccination in Bangladesh. Methods: We implemented a Markov decision-analytic model to estimate the impact of influenza vaccination for each target risk group. We obtained model inputs from hospital-based influenza surveillance data, unpublished surveys, and published literature (preferentially from studies in Bangladesh, followed by regional and global ones). We used quality-adjusted life years (QALY) as the health outcome of interest. We also estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for each risk group by comparing the costs and QALY of vaccinating compared to not vaccinating each group, where the ICER represents the additional cost needed to achieve one year of additional QALY from a given intervention. We considered a willingness-to-pay threshold (ICER) of less than one gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as highly cost-effective and of one to three times GDP per capita as cost-effective (per WHO standard). For Bangladesh, this threshold ranges between USD 2462 and USD 7386. Results: The estimated ICERs were USD -99, USD -87, USD -4, USD 792, and USD 229 per QALY gained for healthcare personnel, older adults (≥60), children aged less than five years, adults with comorbid conditions, and pregnant women, respectively. For all risk groups, ICERs were below the WHO willingness-to-pay threshold for Bangladesh. Vaccinating pregnant women and adults with comorbid conditions was highly cost-effective per additional life year gained, while vaccinating healthcare personnel, older adults (≥60), and children under five years were cost-saving per additional life year gained. Conclusions: Influenza vaccination to all target risk groups in Bangladesh would be either cost-saving or cost-effective, per WHO guidelines of GDP-based thresholds.