How do cost-of-illness studies tie into IVI’s mission to make safe, effective, and affordable vaccines available for global health?
The cost of illness (COI) studies provide a wealth of information on economic costs borne by the heath system and families affected by the disease, including the loss of income related to the inability to work due to illness. The COI studies help in reasoning the economic burden that is averted from vaccination. This information is also used in cost-effectiveness analysis to understand the value for money of vaccination programs. These are some of the evidence used in making policies and introduction of vaccines.
What are some examples of project designs that incorporate health economics research as well as epidemiological or vaccine effectiveness studies?
Several health economic studies are an integral part of other IVI studies. For example, cholera, typhoid, schistosomiasis, iNTS COI studies use the same platform as surveillance or vaccine effectiveness studies. The vaccine delivery cost estimation and cost-effectiveness analysis are conducted along with vaccination programs such as the typhoid conjugate vaccine campaign in India, cholera outbreak response in Mozambique or Nepal and single-dose HPV demonstration project in Thailand. The full value of vaccine analysis (FVVA) studies generates evidence that supports the development of vaccines such as iNTS vaccines and group A streptococcus vaccines.
What kind of data are most useful to support vaccine policy and introduction in a national immunization program?
The vaccine introduction decision at the country level is complex and determined by multiple factors, making it difficult to understand and navigate. When it comes to evidence-based decisions, epidemiological factors (e.g., disease burden), vaccine safety and efficacy/effectiveness, and value for money are critical. Health economic studies provide value for money evidence. Factors such as finance, operational aspects, vaccine availability, health system capacity, policy makers’ perceptions, and political commitments are other essential factors driving vaccine introduction decisions.