A comparative cost analysis of the Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Vaccinology

Background:

• The Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR) administers select ACIP-recommended vaccines to refugees before their departure to the US.
• This program aims to provide initial vaccination doses to improve refugee health upon arrival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare the overall vaccination costs for refugees under two scenarios: with and without the VPR.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the VPR program across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Cost analysis comparing a baseline scenario (no VPR) with the current VPR scenario.
• Evaluation of costs for full vaccination schedules and VPR-specific vaccines in four age-stratified groups.
• Sensitivity and break-even analyses to assess the robustness of the findings.

Main Results:

• The VPR scenario demonstrated lower vaccination costs per refugee compared to the no-VPR scenario across all age groups.
• Net cost savings per person ranged from $225.93 (with RMA/Medicaid) to $498.42 (with private sector payments).
• Costs for VPR-included vaccines were 56% lower with VPR when considering RMA/Medicaid payments.

Conclusions:

• The VPR program is a cost-saving strategy for vaccinating US-bound refugees.
• Implementing VPR reduces the risk of refugees arriving with vaccine-preventable diseases, enhancing public health outcomes.