Publication

Return on investment from childhood immunization in low- and middle-income countries, 2011-2020

Authored by:

Ozawa, S., Portnoy, A., Grewal, S., et al

Full Citation:

Ozawa, S., Portnoy, A., Grewal, S., et al 2016. Return on investment from childhood immunization in low- and middle-income countries, 2011-2020. Health Affairs. 35(2).

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Investing in immunization programs in the world’s poorest countries yields a significant return on the initial investment.

Key Evidence: A recent study estimated that, during the decade from 2011-2020, every US$1 invested in immunization programs in the world’s 73 poorest countries would yield a US$16 return on investment. Using an approach accounting for additional societal benefits of vaccination (the “full income approach”, which quantifies the value that people place on living longer and healthier lives), researchers estimated the return could be as high as US$44 per US$1 invested.

Use of vaccines, including strengthening existing immunization programs, provides opportunities for significant reductions in disease burden with resultant economic benefits.

Key Evidence: Researchers estimate that vaccinating against 10 diseases in the world’s 94 poorest countries between 2011-2020 will avert US$586 billion in costs of illness (including treatment costs, transportation costs, lost caretaker wages and productivity losses due to death and disability). The 73 Gavi-supported countries account for US$544 billion of the treatment costs averted.