Estimated economic impact of vaccinations in 73 low- and middle-income countries 2001-2020.

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Bull World Health Organ. 2017 Sep 1;95(9):629-638. doi: 10.2471/BLT.16.178475. Epub 2017 Jun 27.

Estimated economic impact of vaccinations in 73 low- and middle-income countries 2001-2020.

Ozawa S¹ Clark S² Portnoy A³ Grewal S⁴ Stack ML⁵ Sinha A⁶ Mirelman A⁷ Franklin H⁶ Friberg IK⁸ Tam Y² Walker N² Clark A⁹ Ferrari M¹⁰ Suraratdecha C¹¹ Sweet S¹² Goldie SJ¹² Garske T¹³ Li M¹⁴ Hansen PM¹⁵ Johnson HL¹⁴ Walker D¹⁶.

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Abstract

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OBJECTIVE:

To estimate the economic impact likely to be achieved by efforts to vaccinate against 10 vaccine-preventable diseases between 2001 and 2020 in 73 low- and middle-income countries largely supported by Gavi the Vaccine Alliance.

METHODS:

We used health impact models to estimate the economic impact of achieving forecasted coverages for vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b hepatitis B human papillomavirus Japanese encephalitis measles Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A rotavirus rubella Streptococcus pneumoniae and yellow fever. In comparison with no vaccination we modelled the costs - expressed in 2010 United States dollars (US$) - of averted treatment transportation costs productivity losses of caregivers and productivity losses due to disability and death. We used the value-of-a-life-year method to estimate the broader economic and social value of living longer in better health as a result of immunization.

FINDINGS:

We estimated that in the 73 countries vaccinations given between 2001 and 2020 will avert over 20 million deaths and save US$ 350 billion in cost of illness. The deaths and disability prevented by vaccinations given during the two decades will result in estimated lifelong productivity gains totalling US$ 330 billion and US$ 9 billion respectively. Over the lifetimes of the vaccinated cohorts the same vaccinations will save an estimated US$ 5 billion in treatment costs. The broader economic and social value of these vaccinations is estimated at US$ 820 billion.

CONCLUSION:

By preventing significant costs and potentially increasing economic productivity among some of the worlds poorest countries the impact of immunization goes well beyond health.