Microarray patches likely to reduce the operational costs of immunization: A Monte Carlo simulation study

Area of Science:

• Vaccinology and Public Health
• Health Economics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Microneedle array patches (MAPs) offer potential advantages for vaccine delivery, including reaching unvaccinated populations.
• Concerns exist regarding the higher manufacturing costs of MAPs compared to traditional needle-and-syringe systems.
• The economic viability of MAPs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, requires thorough operational cost analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the operational cost impact of transitioning to MAPs for key vaccine immunizations.
• To assess cost savings across different delivery modes (routine vs. campaign) and vaccine types (measles-rubella, HPV, typhoid).
• To evaluate the potential of operational savings to offset increased manufacturing costs of MAPs.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive estimation of operational costs, including labor, consumables, waste management, vaccine wastage, and cold chain logistics.
• Analysis of five distinct use cases for vaccine delivery using MAPs.
• Calculation of expected cost savings per dose delivered and associated probabilities.

Main Results:

• Operational cost savings from switching to MAPs are projected to range from $0.24 to $0.61 per dose, depending on the vaccine and delivery mode.
• Excluding labor costs, savings are estimated between $0.18 and $0.43 per dose.
• All five use cases demonstrated at least an 87% probability of cost savings, despite wide confidence intervals.

Conclusions:

• Operational savings associated with MAPs can significantly offset their higher manufacturing costs, enhancing implementation viability.
• MAPs present a promising cost-effective solution for vaccine delivery, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
• Continued investment in MAPs technology and evidence-based assessments are recommended for future vaccine implementation strategies.