Publication

Estimating the cost-effectiveness of an infant 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine national immunization program in China

Authored by:

Shen K, Wasserman M, Liu D et al.

Full Citation:

Shen K, Wasserman M, Liu D et al. 2018. Estimating the cost-effectiveness of an infant 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine national immunization program in China. PLoS One. 13(7).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Herd effects multiply the benefits of immunization.

Key Evidence: According to a study using local epidemiological data in China, vaccinating infants with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13), using a 3+1 schedule, would prevent more than 10 times as many deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia in unvaccinated individuals (147,500 per year) than it would prevent directly in those vaccinated (12,800 per year). This would be due mainly to a reduction in hospitalizations for pneumonia.

The indirect benefit of immunization to unvaccinated individuals (herd immunity) increases the cost-effectiveness of vaccines.

Key Evidence: The cost-effectiveness of vaccinating infants with PCV-13 in China was estimated to be 21 times greater when the indirect effects of vaccination in reducing invasive pneumococcal disease and hospitalized cases of pneumonia in older (unvaccinated) individuals was taken into account — with costs per quality of life-year gained (QALY) of around US$564 (Y3,777) vs. $11,836 (Y79,204) when only the direct impact on vaccinated children is considered.