Trends in childhood vaccine purchase costs in the US public sector: 1996-2014

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Immunization Policy

Background:

• Vaccination is a highly cost-effective preventive health strategy.
• The cost of childhood immunization has risen substantially in recent decades.
• Understanding cost drivers is essential for maintaining vaccine accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in non-influenza childhood vaccine purchase costs in the public sector from 1996 to 2014.
• To determine the impact of recommendation updates versus price variation on vaccine costs.
• To assess the cost implications of combination vaccines.

Main Methods:

• Calculated non-influenza vaccine purchase cost per child (ages 0-18) using public sector prices.
• Decomposed cost changes into factors of recommendation updates and price variation.
• Analyzed combination vaccine prices relative to component vaccines.

Main Results:

• The average annual growth rate of non-influenza vaccine purchase cost per child was 12.6% (1996-2014).
• Price changes contributed only 1.0% annually to cost growth.
• Combination vaccines exhibited greater price variation; recommendation updates were the primary cost driver.

Conclusions:

• Vaccine price variation is a minor factor in rising childhood immunization costs.
• Recommendation updates, especially new vaccine introductions, significantly increase purchase costs.
• Continued cost escalation could double childhood vaccine expenses, impacting accessibility.