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The cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Australia
Anthony T Newall1, Philippe Beutels, Kristine Macartney
1School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. anthonyn@chw.edu.au
Insights
Rotavirus vaccination is cost-effective in Australia. Both Rotarix and RotaTeq vaccines prevent gastroenteritis hospitalizations, with societal cost savings and significant health gains.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children.
- Two safe and effective rotavirus vaccines are now universally funded in Australia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two rotavirus vaccines in Australia.
- To analyze disease outcomes including hospitalizations, emergency visits, GP visits, and deaths.
Main Methods:
- Economic modeling from healthcare payer and societal perspectives.
- Inclusion of specific disease outcomes and quality of life impacts.
- Sensitivity analyses on key parameters like quality of life scope and vaccine price.
Main Results:
- From a healthcare payer perspective, cost-effectiveness ratios were $60,073/QALY for Rotarix and $67,681/QALY for RotaTeq.
- From a societal perspective, both vaccines were cost-saving under base-case assumptions.
- Cost-effectiveness is highly sensitive to the scope of quality of life impact and vaccine pricing.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus vaccination is a potentially cost-effective public health intervention in Australia.
- Societal perspective analysis indicates cost savings, highlighting broader economic benefits.
- Negotiated vaccine prices and comprehensive quality of life assessments are crucial for accurate cost-effectiveness evaluation.
Abstract:
Rotavirus is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children. Two rotavirus vaccines with demonstrated safety and efficacy in large scale clinical trials have recently received universal funding in Australia. We modelled specific outcomes of disease (hospitalisations, emergency department visits, general practitioner visits, and deaths) and examined the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of both vaccines in the Australian context. From the healthcare payer perspective, the base-case showed only slightly different results for the two vaccines (Rotarix would cost $60,073/QALY gained and RotaTeq $67,681/QALY gained). From a societal perspective both vaccines were found to be cost saving under base-case assumptions. Rotavirus vaccination could be considered a cost-effective health intervention in Australia, however, the cost-effectiveness ratio depends heavily on several parameters, most notably the appropriate scope of the quality of life impact (that of the child, and one or both caregivers), as well as the negotiated vaccine price for a routine program.
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