Beyond expectations: Post-implementation data shows rotavirus vaccination is likely cost-saving in Australia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Australia's National Immunisation Program included universal rotavirus vaccination in July 2007.
• Pre-implementation cost-effectiveness models guided the program's assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a retrospective economic evaluation of Australia's rotavirus vaccination program.
• To assess the program's cost-effectiveness using post-implementation data.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective economic evaluation using national data (vaccine uptake, before-after impact).
• Multi-cohort compartmental modeling with cost and quality of life estimates.
• Analysis from a healthcare payer perspective, including or excluding unspecified acute gastroenteritis (AGE) hospitalizations.

Main Results:

• An estimated 77,000 hospitalizations and 3 deaths were prevented between 2007-2012.
• Approximately 90% of prevented hospitalizations were in children under 5, with herd protection observed in older groups.
• The program was cost-saving, with benefits outweighing the estimated excess intussusception cases.

Conclusions:

• Rotavirus vaccination program's value for money exceeded pre-implementation predictions.
• Herd impact and reduced unspecified AGE hospitalizations significantly enhanced cost-effectiveness.
• Australian findings offer relevance for high-income countries considering rotavirus vaccination.