Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
Published on: February 15, 2013
Cost-effectiveness analysis of pneumococcal vaccination for infants in China
Kristin A Maurer1, Huey-Fen Chen1, Abram L Wagner2
1Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
Insights
Including pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) in China's national immunization program is cost-effective. PCV-13 offers the best value, significantly reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease in young children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Vaccinology
Background:
- China faces a substantial burden of pneumococcal disease in young children.
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) are not currently publicly funded within China's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of publicly funded infant vaccination programs using PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 in China.
- To compare these strategies against no vaccination from a societal perspective.
Main Methods:
- A Markov model simulated a cohort of 16 million Chinese infants.
- Health states were extrapolated over a 75-year lifetime.
- Model parameters were derived from a comprehensive literature review.
Main Results:
- All PCV vaccination programs (PCV-7, PCV-10, PCV-13) were found to be cost-effective compared to no vaccination.
- PCV-13 demonstrated the lowest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ($11,464/QALY), indicating superior value.
- Sensitivity analysis identified key factors influencing cost-effectiveness, including acute otitis media utility and costs/incidence of pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- The Chinese government should integrate pneumococcal conjugate vaccines into its EPI to mitigate pneumococcal disease burden in children.
- PCV-13 is the preferred strategy due to its cost-saving potential and effectiveness.
- Implementing PCV vaccination programs offers significant long-term healthcare cost reductions.
Background:
Although China has a high burden of pneumococcal disease among young children, the government does not administer publicly-funded pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) through its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of publicly-funded PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 vaccination programs for infants in China.
Methods:
Using a Markov model, we simulated a cohort of 16 million Chinese infants to estimate the impact of PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 vaccination programs from a societal perspective. We extrapolated health states to estimate the effects of the programs over the course of a lifetime of 75years. Parameters in the model were derived from a review of the literature.
Results:
We found that PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 vaccination programs would be cost-effective compared to no vaccination. However, PCV-13 had the lowest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ($11,464/QALY vs $16,664/QALY for PCV-10 and $18,224/QALY for PCV-7) due to a reduction in overall costs. Our sensitivity analysis revealed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were most sensitive to the utility of acute otitis media, the cost of PCV-13, and the incidence of pneumonia and acute otitis media.
Conclusions:
The Chinese government should take steps to reduce the burden of pneumococcal diseases among young children through the inclusion of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in its EPI. Although all vaccinations would be cost-effective, PCV-13 would save more costs to the healthcare system and would be the preferred strategy.
More Related Videos
06:26Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis
Published on: July 28, 2023
11:32Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:51Vaccinations