Inpharma 1646 - 12 Jul 2008

Universal RV vaccination not costeffective

With current vaccine prices, universal rotavirus (RV)vaccination in The Netherlands is not likely to be costeffective, according to a model-based study.

Following the European licensing of the Rotarix andRotaTeq vaccines in 2006, the researchers conducted anevaluation model to aid a decision on the inclusion of RVvaccination in the National Immunisation Programme(NIP). The model, in a checklist format, assignedinformation to the fields ’disease’, ’vaccine’ and’pathogen’ which together provided information for acost-effectiveness analysis.

From unpublished data, estimated annual vaccinationcosts would total €30 million, with expected annualsavings of €5.8 million.* The disease burden byvaccination was estimated at an average of 50 disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) 1 year following vaccinationand would increase to a maximum of 190 DALYs/year**

at the end of year 4. Following current Dutch guidelines,with 110 life-years gained (LYG), the cost-effectivenessratio would be an average of €119 000/DALY from asocial perspective and €211 000/LYG from a third payerperspective.

The researchers state that the inclusion of RVvaccination on the Dutch NIP would, however, only becost effective if vaccine-related costs totalled less than€46 per vaccinated child over an assumed vaccinationcampaign of a minimum of 20 years; at costs of less than€24 per vaccinated child, the programme would be costsaving.* using direct and indirect costs** using a discount of 1.5%

Zomer TP, et al. Assessing the introduction of universal rotavirus vaccination inthe Netherlands. Vaccine 26: 3757-3764, No. 29-30, 4 Jul 2008 801102492

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Inpharma 12 Jul 2008 No. 16461173-8324/10/1646-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved