NEW THIS WEDNESDAY: A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF A 10-VALENT PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE IN CHILDREN IN SIX LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

Saturday, 31st of August 2013

A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF A 10-VALENT PNEUMOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE IN CHILDREN IN SIX LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

Sebastián García Martí, Lisandro Colantonio, Ariel Bardach, Julieta Galante, Analía Lopez, Joaquín Caporale, Gerhart Knerer, Jorge Alberto Gomez, Federico Augustovski and Andrés Pichon-Riviere

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2013, 11:21 doi:10.1186/1478-7547-11-21

Published: 30 August 2013

Abstract (provisional); full text is at http://www.resource-allocation.com/content/pdf/1478-7547-11-21.pdf

Background

A recently developed 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable H influenzae protein D-conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) is expected to afford protection against more than two thirds of isolates causing IPD in children in Latin America, and also against acute otitis media caused by both Spn and NTHi. The objective of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of PHiD-CV in comparison to non-vaccination in children under 10 years of age in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Methods

We used a static, deterministic, compartmental simulation model. The dosing regimen considered included three vaccine doses (at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months) and a booster dose (at 13 months) (3 + 1 schedule). Model outcomes included number of cases prevented, deaths averted, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained and costs. Discount for costs and benefits of long term sequelae was done at 3.5%, and currency reported in 2008-2009 U$S varying between countries.

Results

The largest effect in case prevention was observed in pneumococcal meningitis (from 27% in Peru to 47% in Colombia), neurologic sequelae after meningitis (from 38% in Peru to 65% in Brazil) and bacteremia (from 42% in Argentina to 49% in Colombia). The proportion of predicted deaths averted annually ranged from 18% in Peru to 33% in Brazil. Overall, the health benefits achieved with PHiD-CV vaccination resulted in a lower QALY loss (from 15% lower in Peru to 26% in Brazil). At a cost of USD 20 per vaccine dose, vaccination was cost-effective in all countries, from being cost saving in Chile to a maximum Incremental Cost-effectiveness Ratio of 7,088 US$ Dollars per QALY gained. Results were robust in the sensitivity analysis, and scenarios with indirect costs affected results more than those with herd immunity.

Conclusions

The incorporation of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into routine infant immunization programs in Latin American countries could be a cost-effective strategy to improve infant population health in the region.