Economic Evaluation of Vaccination Programs: A Guide for Selecting Modeling Approaches

Area of Science:

• Health economics
• Public health policy
• Vaccination program evaluation

Background:

• Economic evaluations are crucial for informing decisions on vaccination programs.
• Different methods provide varied perspectives on program value.
• Understanding these methods aids in selecting appropriate tools for specific policy contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate three economic evaluation methods: cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), fiscal health modeling (FHM), and constrained optimization (CO).
• To examine the utility of value measures from these methods for decision-makers considering vaccination programs.
• To create a guide for selecting appropriate modeling approaches based on decision-maker contexts and policy objectives.

Main Methods:

• Literature search to identify publications on CEA, FHM, and CO for vaccination programs.
• Analysis of example publications from 8 countries across 4 infectious diseases (influenza, HPV, rotavirus, malaria).
• Examination of how different value measures serve specific decision-maker needs.

Main Results:

• CEA studies focus on health system decision-makers, using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios to assess program efficiency.
• FHM studies target public sector spending decision-makers, estimating impacts on government tax revenue.
• CO studies assist decision-makers in selecting optimal prevention strategies within budget constraints.

Conclusions:

• CEA measures are vital for determining vaccination program efficiency, access, and reimbursement.
• FHM measures inform government officials about the program's impact on public spending.
• CO measures help public health officials optimize the mix of all prevention interventions.