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Consequences of the introduction of the new inactivated poliovirus vaccine into the Expanded Programme on
Insights
The new inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) requires fewer visits for childhood immunization, increasing vaccination coverage and reducing costs. Despite higher vaccine prices, IPV improves the overall efficacy and economic feasibility of immunization programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Health Economics
Background:
- The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) traditionally uses oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), requiring four infant visits within 10 months.
- This schedule leads to significant challenges, including high dropout rates and reduced vaccination coverage.
- Achieving full immunization is difficult with the current OPV-based schedule.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of introducing the new inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) into the EPI.
- To assess the feasibility of achieving higher vaccination coverage with a reduced visit schedule.
- To analyze the economic implications of using IPV compared to OPV.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of vaccination schedules (OPV vs. IPV).
- Evaluation of vaccination coverage rates based on the number of required visits.
- Cost-benefit analysis considering vaccine production costs and program expenses.
- Assessment of the efficacy/cost ratio for complete childhood immunization.
Main Results:
- Introduction of IPV allows protection against six EPI diseases in just two visits, significantly increasing vaccination coverage.
- Reduced number of visits leads to decreased operational and investment costs for the immunization program.
- While the production cost of IPV is higher than OPV, the overall efficacy/cost ratio is considerably improved.
- The new IPV enhances the feasibility of the EPI under favorable economic conditions.
Conclusions:
- The new inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) offers a more efficient vaccination schedule, boosting coverage rates.
- IPV implementation can lead to cost savings in immunization programs despite higher individual vaccine prices.
- IPV significantly improves the economic viability and practical implementation of the Expanded Programme on Immunization.
Abstract:
Use of the oral poliovirus vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) demands that the children vaccinated be seen four times during the first 10 months of life. In practice, this necessity presents considerable difficulties, which are expressed in particular by the high drop-out rate. Introduction of the new inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) into the vaccination program enables children to be effectively protected against the six diseases of the EPI in only two visits. Vaccination coverage is thus very significantly increased. At the same time, by reducing the number of visits, both the running costs and the investment costs can be decreased. However, the cost of the vaccines is going to rise noticeably because the production of the new IPV will remain a great deal more costly than the production of the live vaccine. An outline is provided of the likely price of the new concentrated and purified IPV. The efficacy/cost ratio, measured by the cost of completely vaccinating a child, will, nevertheless, be considerably improved. The new IPV therefore increases the feasibility of the EPI under most satisfactory economic conditions.