Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
Assays for the Specific Growth Rate and Cell-binding Ability of Rotavirus
Published on: January 28, 2019
Cost-effectiveness of a pentavalent rotavirus vaccine in Japan
Robbin Itzler1, Megan A O'Brien, Kaoru Yamabe
1Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp , North Wales, PA , USA.
Insights
Universal rotavirus vaccination (RV5) in Japan significantly cuts healthcare burdens, reducing hospitalizations by 92% and outpatient visits by 74%. This vaccination program shows potential cost-effectiveness, especially when including parental impact.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) poses a significant healthcare burden in Japan.
- Universal vaccination strategies are being explored to mitigate RGE's impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of universal pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) on healthcare burden and costs of RGE in Japan.
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of RV5 vaccination from payer and societal perspectives.
Main Methods:
- A hypothetical cohort of over 1 million children was modeled for the first 5 years of life.
- Vaccine efficacy data from international and Japanese clinical trials were utilized.
- Cost-effectiveness was measured using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained.
Main Results:
- Universal RV5 vaccination is projected to decrease RGE hospitalizations by 92% and outpatient visits by 74%.
- The estimated reduction in medical costs is ¥16 billion, with a total vaccination cost of ¥26 billion.
- The ICER is ¥4 million/QALY (payer) and ¥2 million/QALY (societal), increasing if parental disutilities are excluded.
Conclusions:
- Universal RV5 vaccination is expected to yield substantial public health benefits in Japan.
- The vaccination program demonstrates potential cost-effectiveness, particularly when accounting for parental quality-of-life impacts.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of universal vaccination with a pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) on the healthcare burden and costs associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) in Japan.
Methods:
The model included a hypothetical cohort of 1,091,156 children followed for their first 5 years of life. In the absence of universal vaccination, there were 19 deaths, 78,000 hospitalizations, and 678,000 outpatient visits due to RGE. The efficacy of RV5 is based on international clinical trial data, which was similar to the efficacy observed in clinical trials conducted in Japan. The primary outcome measure is the cost per quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY) gained. In the base case, the QALY loss per 1000 RGE episodes included 2.2 for children and 1.8 per parent.
Results:
Universal vaccination is projected to reduce hospitalizations by 92%, outpatient visits by 74%, and work-loss days by 73%. For the base case analysis, the total vaccination cost was ¥26 billion. The estimated reduction in medical costs was ¥16 billion. Of 2500 QALYs gained with the vaccination program, approximately half are directly attributed to the child. In the base case analysis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for vaccination vs. no vaccination is ¥4 million and ¥2 million per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from the healthcare payer and societal perspectives, respectively. The ICERs are ¥8 million and ¥4 million if parental disutilities are excluded. KEY LIMITATION: The QALY decrements for children and parents were evaluated using different instruments, and the QALY decrements do not vary based on episode severity. Given the interdependence between children and their parents, excluding parental disutilities may under-estimate the impact of RGE.
Conclusion:
Universal vaccination with RV5 in Japan is projected to have a substantial public health impact and may be cost-effective from both the payer and societal perspectives if parental disutilities are included in the cost-effectiveness ratios.
More Related Videos
09:37Detection of Polyfunctional T Cells in Children Vaccinated with Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine via the Flow Cytometry Technique
Published on: September 23, 2022
12:20Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
Published on: December 29, 2015
