Economic evaluation of human papillomavirus vaccination in the Global South: a systematic review

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a maternal pneumococcal vaccine in low-income, high-burden settings such as Sierra Leone

Maternal pneumococcal vaccines have been proposed as a method of protecting infants in the first few months of life. In this paper, we use results from a dynamic transmission model to assess the cost-effectiveness of a maternal pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine from both healthcare and societal perspectives. We estimate the costs of delivering a maternal pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, the healthcare costs averted, and productivity losses avoided through the prevention of severe pneumococcal outcomes such as pneumonia and meningitis. Our model estimates that a maternal pneumococcal program would cost $606 (2020 USD, 95% prediction interval 437 to 779) from a healthcare perspective and $132 (95% prediction interval -1 to 265) from a societal perspective per DALY averted for one year of vaccine delivery. Hence, a maternal pneumococcal vaccine would be cost-effective from a societal perspective but not cost-effective from a healthcare perspective using Sierra Leone's GDP per capita of $527 as a cost-effectiveness threshold. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates how the choice to discount ongoing health benefits determines whether the maternal pneumococcal vaccine was deemed cost-effective from a healthcare perspective. Without discounting, the cost per DALY averted would be $292 (55% of Sierra Leone's GDP per capita) from a healthcare perspective. Further, the cost per DALY averted would be $142 (27% GDP per capita) from a healthcare perspective if PPV could be procured at the same cost relative to PCV in Sierra Leone as on the PAHO reference price list. Overall, our paper demonstrates that maternal pneumococcal vaccines have the potential to be cost-effective in low-income settings; however, the likelihood of low-income countries self-financing this intervention will depend on negotiations with vaccine providers on vaccine price. Vaccine price is the largest program cost driving the cost-effectiveness of a future maternal pneumococcal vaccine.

Attitudes and perceptions of mothers towards childhood vaccination in Greece: lessons to improve the childhood COVID-19 vaccination acceptance

BACKGROUND

Maternal attitudes and beliefs have been shown to influence childhood vaccination coverage, resulting in under-vaccination, non-vaccination, and vaccination delay. This study aimed to investigate the mothers' attitudes and perceptions about vaccination for their children in Greece.

METHODS

This was an online cross-sectional study, conducted from 4 April to 8 June 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about mothers' and their children's socio-demographic characteristics, previous vaccination behavior, and mothers' attitudes and perceptions about childhood vaccination. Participants included adult mothers with at least one minor child.

RESULTS

One thousand eight hundred eighty-five mothers participated, with the majority (91.7%) believing in the usefulness of vaccines and that vaccines protect children from serious and life-threatening diseases. A larger percentage of mothers with higher educational attainment agreed/absolutely agreed that all vaccinations provided by the National Vaccination Program must be offered to their children (91.6%) (p = 0.02) and that vaccines protect children from serious and life-threatening diseases (92.9%) (p = 0.01). Significant more married/in cohabitation and not single-parent mothers agreed that vaccines are safe (53.5% and 53.4%, respectively). There were also several significant associations between maternal attitudes toward childhood vaccination and previous maternal vaccination practices [(e.g., adherence to recommended vaccination dosages (all p-values < 0.01), vaccination delays (all p-values < 0.05), and vaccination during pregnancy (all p-values < 0.01)].

CONCLUSION

Maternal attitudes and perceptions toward childhood vaccination are significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors and maternal vaccination practices. Revealing those is essential for public health officials in developing future strategies to improve childhood vaccination coverage and acceptance of new vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccine.