Public Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Non-live Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Canadian Adults

The public health impact of recombinant herpes zoster vaccination in adults over 50 years in Spain

The recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is included in the Spanish National Immunisation Programme for adults 65 years of age (years), with a potential progressive catch-up program for adults 66-80 years, starting with 80 years. However, the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) increases significantly from 50 years. We estimated the public health impact (PHI) of vaccinating adults ≥50 years in Spain versus no vaccination, using a Markov model adapted to the Spanish setting. The model simulated a hypothetical ≥50 years cohort over a lifetime, with inputs from Spanish publications, databases, or publications from other countries where Spanish data were unavailable. Base case inputs included 67.7% RZV coverage and 61.1% second dose compliance. Outputs included clinical outcomes avoided, healthcare resource use avoided, and number-needed-to-vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one HZ case. Deterministic (DSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were also conducted. The model estimated that, compared with no vaccination, vaccinating adults ≥50 years in Spain (N = 19,850,213) with RZV could prevent 1,533,353 HZ cases, 261,610 postherpetic neuralgia episodes, 274,159 other complications, and 138 deaths through the cohorts' remaining lifetime, mostly in the 50-59 years cohort. Furthermore, 3,500,492 primary care visits and 71,156 hospitalizations could be avoided, with NNV = 9 to prevent one HZ case. DSA predicted NNV = 7 to prevent one HZ case when second dose compliance was increased to 100%. PSA demonstrated ≥200,000 and ≥1,400,000 cases could be prevented in 86.9% and 18.4% of simulations, respectively. Starting RZV from 50 years could therefore prevent a substantial number of HZ cases and complications. Increasing RZV coverage and second dose compliance could further alleviate PHI of HZ.

Public health impact of herpes zoster vaccination on older adults in Singapore: a modeling study

In Singapore, population aging and rising life expectancy are increasing herpes zoster (HZ) burden, which may be reduced by vaccination. The present study modeled the public health impact of HZ vaccination in Singapore using ZOster ecoNomic Analysis (ZONA) model adapted with Singapore-specific key model inputs, where available. Base case analysis was conducted in adults ≥ 50 years of age (YOA), exploring three vaccination strategies (no vaccination, recombinant zoster vaccine [RZV], zoster vaccine live [ZVL]) under mass vaccination setting (30% coverage). Scenario and sensitivity analyses were performed. Out of 1.51 million adults in 2021 (base case population), 406,513 (27.0%) cases of HZ, 68,264 (4.5%) cases of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), and 54,949 (3.6%) cases of other complications were projected without vaccination. RZV was estimated to avoid 73,129 cases of HZ, 11,094 cases of PHN, and 9,205 cases of other complications over the subjects' remaining lifetime; ZVL would avoid 17,565 cases of HZ, 2,781 cases of PHN, and 1,834 cases of other complications. The number needed to vaccinate to prevent one case of HZ/PHN was lower for RZV (7/41) than ZVL (26/163). Among all five age-stratified cohorts (50-59/60-64/65-69/70-79/≥80 YOA), RZV (versus no vaccination/ZVL) avoided the largest number of cases in the youngest cohort, 50-59 YOA. Results were robust under scenario and sensitivity analyses. Mass vaccination with RZV is expected to greatly reduce the public health burden of HZ among Singapore individuals ≥ 50 YOA. Findings support value assessment and decision-making regarding public health vaccination strategies for HZ prevention in Singapore.

Herpes zoster in Belgium: a new solution to an old problem

Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. The life-time risk of developing HZ is ~ 30%. Management of HZ can be challenging due to limited efficacy of oral antivirals on pain control, and neuropathic pain that may require aggressive management. Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) can cause substantial pain and occurs in up to one-quarter of patients with HZ. Up to 48,000 HZ cases are estimated to occur annually in Belgium, estimated to cost almost 7 million euros in treatment. The recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix, GSK) was approved in Europe in 2017. In 2022, the Belgian Superior Health Council recommended vaccination with RZV for immunocompetent adults aged ≥ 60 years, and immunocompromised patients aged ≥ 16 years, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, in particular Janus kinase inhibitors. RZV showed high age-independent efficacy in preventing HZ infection and in clinical trials that has since been confirmed in real-world effectiveness studies. In clinical trials, protection was sustained for at least 10 years after vaccination. As of 1 November 2023, RZV is reimbursed for three immunocompromised patient groups aged ≥ 18 years: malignancy treated in the past 5 years, HIV infection, and organ or haematological stem cell transplantation or are a transplant candidate. HZ is vaccine-preventable and RZV provides a highly effective tool for HZ prevention. While reimbursement for some at-risk groups is welcomed, reimbursement currently falls well short of Superior Health Council recommendations. Adult immunisation strategies should be promoted to achieve high vaccination coverage against HZ, contributing to healthy aging in Belgium.

Updated Public Health Impact and Cost Effectiveness of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Canadian Adults Aged 50 Years and Older

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to update previously estimated public health impact and cost effectiveness of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) for the prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) in Canadians aged ≥50 years using longer-term RZV efficacy and waning data and real-world coverage and completion.

METHODS

A multicohort Markov model was used to conduct a cost-utility analysis comparing RZV with no HZ vaccination among Canadians aged ≥50 years. Real-world data were used for first-dose coverage (17.5%) and second-dose completion (65%). Vaccine efficacy and waning data were applied from up to 8-year follow-up from the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 clinical trials. Incremental costs and benefits were calculated using a lifetime horizon from the healthcare payer (base case) and societal perspectives. A discount rate of 1.5% was applied to costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

The model estimated that RZV would prevent 303,835 HZ cases, 83,256 post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) cases, 39,653 other complications, and 99 HZ-related deaths compared with no HZ vaccination. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated to be $27,486 and $22,097 per QALY (2022 Canadian dollars [CAN$]) from the healthcare payer and societal perspectives, respectively. The base-case ICER was most sensitive to a lower percentage of initial HZ cases with PHN. Almost all probabilistic sensitivity analysis simulations (98.1%) resulted in ICERs

CONCLUSIONS

RZV is expected to remain a cost-effective option for Canadian adults aged ≥50 years when using longer-term RZV efficacy and waning estimates, although the estimated public health impact was smaller than in the previous analysis (due to lower coverage/completion estimates).

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Key Words Collapse

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Grants

• GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals

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Affiliation(s)

Sydney George GSK, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Justin Carrico RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Katherine A Hicks RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Dessi Loukov GSK, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Cheryl Ng GSK, Singapore, Singapore
Jessica Regan GSK, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Nikolaos Giannelos GSK, Wavre, Belgium

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Modelling the Public Health Burden of Herpes Zoster and the Impact of Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Five Selected Countries in Southeast Asia

INTRODUCTION

Herpes zoster (HZ) can cause substantial patient morbidity and lead to large healthcare costs. However, the disease burden of HZ in Southeast Asia may be underestimated. This study aimed to estimate the public health burden of HZ and the impact of vaccinating adults aged ≥ 50 years old in five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam), with adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) compared with no vaccination.

METHODS

For each country, we adapted a static multicohort Markov model developed with a 1-year cycle length and lifetime horizon. Demographics were obtained from the World Health Organization, HZ incidence from a worldwide meta-regression reporting Asian-specific values, proportions of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and non-PHN complications from local/regional studies, and vaccine efficacy from a long-term follow-up trial. First-dose coverage and second-dose compliance were assumed to be 30% and 70%, respectively. A one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis (OWSA) and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) were performed to assess the robustness and uncertainty of inputs for each country.

RESULTS

Without RZV, it was estimated that there would be a total of approximately 10 million HZ cases, 2.1 million PHN cases, and 1.4 million non-PHN complications in individuals aged ≥ 50 years included in the model. Introducing RZV under 30% coverage could avoid approximately 2.2 million (22%) HZ cases, almost 500,000 (21%) PHN cases, and around 300,000 (22%) non-PHN complications. OWSA showed that first-dose coverage and initial HZ incidence had the largest impact on the estimated number of HZ cases avoided. The number needed to vaccinate ranged from 15 to 21 to prevent one case of HZ and from 68 to 104 to prevent one case of PHN across each country.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that there is substantial HZ disease burden in older adults for the five selected countries in Southeast Asia, negatively impacting national healthcare systems. Introducing RZV could potentially reduce this burden. A graphical abstract is available with this article.

Cost-effectiveness of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) against herpes zoster: An updated critical review

The objective of this study was to critically review the cost-effectiveness (CE) of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) against herpes zoster (HZ). A literature review was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane between January 1, 2017, and February 28, 2022, and on select public healthcare agency websites to identify and collect data from CE studies comparing RZV to zoster vaccine live (ZVL) or to no vaccination. Study characteristics, inputs, and outputs were collected. The overall CE of RZV was assessed. RZV vaccination against HZ is cost-effective in 15 out of 18 studies included in the present review. Varying incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) observed may be associated with different assumptions on the duration of protection of RZV, as well as different combinations of structural and disease-related study (model) inputs driving the estimation of ICERs.

How large could the public health impact of introducing recombinant zoster vaccination for people aged ≥50 years in five Latin American countries be?

This study aimed to: (1) estimate the disease burden of herpes zoster (HZ) and (2) assess the potential public health impact of introducing adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) compared with no vaccination in adults aged ≥50 years in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia using the ZOster ecoNomic Analysis (ZONA) static multicohort Markov model. The model followed individuals aged ≥50 years from administration of RZV over their remaining lifetime. Inputs were based, most often, on local data. First dose coverage was assumed to be 35%, with 75% second dose compliance. It was predicted that without RZV, there would be 23,558,675 HZ cases, 6,115,981 post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) cases, and 7,058,779 non-PHN complications in the five countries, but introducing RZV under assumed coverage could avoid 4,583,787 (19%) HZ cases, 1,130,751 (18%) PHN cases, and 1,373,419 (19%) non-PHN complications. Also, 10427,504 (20%) doctor's office visits and 1,630,201 (19%) days of hospitalization could be averted in the three countries (Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico) with available input data. The numbers needed to be vaccinated to avoid one case of HZ were 9-10 across countries, and to avoid one case of PHN, 35-40. One-way sensitivity analyses showed that the input parameters with the largest impact on the estimated number of HZ cases avoided were first dose coverage, initial HZ incidence, and vaccine efficacy waning. In conclusion, the introduction of RZV for older adults in Latin America could greatly reduce the public health burden of HZ and reduce the related doctor visits and hospitalization days.

Public health impact of herpes zoster vaccination on older adults in Hong Kong

The growing burden of herpes zoster (HZ) in Hong Kong, due to an aging population with increasing life expectancy, may be reduced by vaccination. This study aimed to estimate public health impact of HZ vaccination in Hong Kong. The ZOster ecoNomic Analysis (ZONA) model was adapted with Hong Kong-specific key model inputs/assumptions, where available. Base case analysis involved adults ≥50 years of age (YOA), exploring three vaccination strategies (no vaccination/recombinant zoster vaccine [RZV]/zoster vaccine live [ZVL]) under private market (5% coverage) and mass vaccination (40% coverage) settings. Scenario and sensitivity analyses were performed. In the base case population (3.13 million), without vaccination, 891,024 HZ (28.4%), 156,097 post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) (5.0%), and 38,755 (1.2%) HZ ophthalmicus (HZO) were projected over their remaining lifetime. Mass RZV vaccination reduced HZ, PHN, and HZO cases by 204,875 (-23.0%), 31,949 (-20.5%), and 8,471 (-21.9%), respectively, which was 4-5 times that reduced with ZVL. RZV was more efficient than ZVL, with lower number needed to vaccinate to prevent one HZ/PHN/HZO case (RZV: 7/40/148; ZVL: 27/163/709). Among all age cohorts, the greatest reduction in cases was projected for RZV (versus no vaccination/ZVL) in the youngest cohort, 50-59 YOA. Results were robust under scenario and sensitivity analyses. HZ burden in Hong Kong is substantial. Mass RZV vaccination is expected to considerably reduce public health burden of HZ among individuals ≥50 YOA, compared with no vaccination/ZVL. Results may support value assessment and decision-making regarding vaccination strategies for HZ prevention in Hong Kong.

Cost Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Vedolizumab for Maintenance Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in Canada

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Ulcerative colitis is highly prevalent in Canada and cost-effective ulcerative colitis therapies are warranted. Vedolizumab subcutaneous (SC) formulation was recently approved for ulcerative colitis maintenance therapy. We assessed vedolizumab SC cost effectiveness vs conventional and advanced therapeutics in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis from a Canadian public healthcare payer perspective.

METHODS

A hybrid decision tree/Markov model was developed to evaluate vedolizumab SC costs, quality-adjusted life-years, and cost effectiveness vs conventional therapy, adalimumab SC, infliximab intravenous, golimumab SC, tofacitinib, ustekinumab SC, and vedolizumab intravenous. This model predicts the number of patients achieving clinical response and remission after treatment induction, and sustained benefit during maintenance treatment. To account for statistical uncertainties, the base-case analysis was conducted in a probabilistic manner. Scenario analyses examined the impact of previous treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents, dose escalation, loss of efficacy, and treatment adherence.

RESULTS

In the base-case analysis, conventional therapy was the most cost-effective therapeutic option in the overall population. Vedolizumab SC was cost effective and dominant compared with other advanced therapies (adalimumab, golimumab, infliximab, tofacitinib 5 mg, ustekinumab, and vedolizumab intravenous). The annual vedolizumab SC cost per patient was reduced vs ustekinumab SC, tofacitinib 5 mg, vedolizumab intravenous, and golimumab SC by $47,024, $3251, $2120, and $2004 (Canadian dollars), respectively, and exceeded that of infliximab, adalimumab, and conventional therapy by $582, $3293, and $41,024, respectively. Among the treatments, vedolizumab SC generated the highest quality-adjusted life-years overall (14.21), which translated into the best incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-years gained over conventional therapy in the overall population ($109,374) and in anti-tumor necrosis factor-naïve and anti-tumor necrosis factor-experienced patients ($41,658/$114,287).

CONCLUSIONS

Conventional therapy offered the most cost-effective therapeutic option followed by vedolizumab SC. Based on a $50,000/quality-adjusted life-year threshold, vedolizumab was cost effective in anti-tumor necrosis factor-naïve patients but not the overall population also when compared to conventional therapy.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Herpes Zoster Vaccination in 50- to 85-Year-Old Immunocompetent Belgian Cohorts: A Comparison between No Vaccination, the Adjuvanted Subunit Vaccine, and Live-Attenuated Vaccine

BACKGROUND

A new adjuvanted subunit vaccine (HZ/su), with higher vaccine efficacy than live-attenuated vaccine (ZVL), has been licensed in Europe since March 2018. Therefore, Belgian decision-makers might need to re-assess their recommendations for vaccination against herpes zoster (HZ).

METHODS

We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis, using a Markov decision tree, of vaccinating 50- to 85-year-old immunocompetent Belgian cohorts with no vaccination, HZ/su, ZVL, and ZVL with booster after 10 years. Due to the uncertainty in vaccine waning of HZ/su vaccine beyond 4 years, we used a logarithmic and 1-minus-exponential function to model respectively a long and short duration of protection. We used a lifetime time horizon and implemented the health care payer perspective throughout the analysis.

RESULTS

HZ/su had the greatest impact in avoiding health and economic burden. However, it would never become cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €40,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained at its market price set by the manufacturer in the USA. Depending on the waning function assumed for HZ/su, the price per dose needs to drop 60% or 83% such that vaccination with HZ/su, assuming respectively a long or short duration of protection, would become cost-effective in 50- and 80-year-old individuals. At €40,000 per QALY gained, ZVL or ZVL with booster was never found cost-effective compared with HZ/su, even if only administration cost was considered.

CONCLUSION

HZ/su is cost-effective in the 50-year-old age cohort at the unofficial Belgian threshold of €40,000 per QALY gained, if its price drops to €55.40 per dose. This result is, however, very sensitive to the assumed duration of protection of the vaccine, and the assumed severity and QALY loss associated with HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Global herpes zoster incidence, burden of disease, and vaccine availability: a narrative review

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a neurocutaneous disease that causes significant morbidity worldwide. The disease is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which leads to the development of a painful, vesicular rash and can cause complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia and vision loss. Globally, the incidence of HZ is increasing, and it incurs billions in cost annually to the healthcare system and to society through loss of productivity. With the advent of effective vaccines such as the live attenuated vaccine, Zostavax^®, in 2006, and more recently the adjuvant recombinant subunit vaccine, Shingrix^®, in 2017, HZ has become a preventable disease. However, access to the vaccines remains mostly limited to countries with developed economies, such as the United States and Canada. Even among countries with developed economies that license the vaccine, few have implemented HZ vaccination into their national immunization schedules due to cost-effectiveness considerations. In this review, we discuss the currently available HZ vaccines, landscape of HZ vaccine guidelines, and economic burden of disease in countries with developed and developing economies, as well as barriers and considerations in HZ vaccine access on a global scale.

Incremental net monetary benefit of herpes zoster vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cost-effectiveness evidence

OBJECTIVES

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to pool the incremental net benefit (INB) of each herpes zoster vaccine [i.e. Zoster Vaccine Live (ZVL) and Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV)].

METHODS

We initially identified individual studies by hand-searching reference lists of the relevant systematic review articles. An updated comprehensive search was performed in Medline, Scopus, and Embase until June 2020 for additional studies. Studies were eligible if they assessed the cost-effectiveness/utility of any pair among ZVL and RZV, and no vaccine and reported economic outcomes. Details of the study characteristics, economic model inputs, costs, and outcomes were extracted. INB was calculated with monetary units adjusting for purchasing power parity for 2019 US dollars and pooled by meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 37 studies were pooled for meta-analysis stratified by perspectives [i.e. societal (SP) and third-party payer (TPP)] and vaccine types. In SP, ZVL was cost-effective compared to no vaccine when vaccinated at ages of 50-59 and 70-79 years with INBs (95% CI) of $0.61 (0.37, 0.85) and $9.67 (5.20, 14.14), respectively. RZV was cost-effective for those aged 60-69 and 70-79 years with INBs of $75.61 (17.98, 133.23) and $85.01 (30.02, 140.01), respectively. In TPP, ZVL was cost-effective compared to no vaccine when vaccinated at age 70-79 years with INB of $7.57 (0.27, 14.86) and RZV was cost-effective at 60-69 years with INB $220.87 (47.80, 393.93). The cost-effectiveness of RZV was robust across a series of sensitivity analyses, but ZVL differs on different vaccination ages.

CONCLUSIONS

RZV may be cost-effective for vaccination in ages of 60-79 years for both SP and TPP perspectives, while ZVL might be cost-effective in some age groups, but results are not robust.

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline for Immunizations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)-Part 2: Inactivated Vaccines

Background and Aims

The effectiveness and safety of vaccinations can be altered by immunosuppressive therapies, and perhaps by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) itself. These recommendations developed by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and endorsed by the American Gastroenterological Association, aim to provide guidance on immunizations in adult and pediatric patients with IBD. This publication focused on inactivated vaccines.

Methods

Systematic reviews evaluating the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of vaccines in patients with IBD, other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, and the general population were performed. Critical outcomes included mortality, vaccine-preventable diseases, and serious adverse events. Immunogenicity was considered a surrogate outcome for vaccine efficacy. Certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. Key questions were developed through an iterative online platform, and voted on by a multidisciplinary group. Recommendations were formulated using the Evidence-to-Decision framework. Strong recommendation means that most patients should receive the recommended course of action, whereas a conditional recommendation means that different choices will be appropriate for different patients.

Results

Consensus was reached on 15 of 20 questions. Recommendations address the following vaccines: Haemophilus influenzae type b, recombinant zoster, hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcus, meningococcus, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, and human papillomavirus. Most of the recommendations for patients with IBD are congruent with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommendations for the general population, with the following exceptions. In patients with IBD, the panel suggested Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine for patients older than 5 years of age, recombinant zoster vaccine for adults younger than 50 year of age, and hepatitis B vaccine for adults without a risk factor. Consensus was not reached, and recommendations were not made for 5 statements, due largely to lack of evidence, including double-dose hepatitis B vaccine, timing of influenza immunization in patients on biologics, pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines in adult patients without risk factors, and human papillomavirus vaccine in patients aged 27–45 years.

Conclusions

Patients with IBD may be at increased risk of some vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, maintaining appropriate vaccination status in these patients is critical to optimize patient outcomes. In general, IBD is not a contraindication to the use of inactivated vaccines, but immunosuppressive therapy may reduce vaccine responses.

Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline for Immunizations in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)-Part 2: Inactivated Vaccines

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The effectiveness and safety of vaccinations can be altered by immunosuppressive therapies, and perhaps by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) itself. These recommendations developed by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology and endorsed by the American Gastroenterological Association, aim to provide guidance on immunizations in adult and pediatric patients with IBD. This publication focused on inactivated vaccines.

METHODS

Systematic reviews evaluating the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of vaccines in patients with IBD, other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, and the general population were performed. Critical outcomes included mortality, vaccine-preventable diseases, and serious adverse events. Immunogenicity was considered a surrogate outcome for vaccine efficacy. Certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. Key questions were developed through an iterative online platform, and voted on by a multidisciplinary group. Recommendations were formulated using the Evidence-to-Decision framework. Strong recommendation means that most patients should receive the recommended course of action, whereas a conditional recommendation means that different choices will be appropriate for different patients.

RESULTS

Consensus was reached on 15 of 20 questions. Recommendations address the following vaccines: Haemophilus influenzae type b, recombinant zoster, hepatitis B, influenza, pneumococcus, meningococcus, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, and human papillomavirus. Most of the recommendations for patients with IBD are congruent with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommendations for the general population, with the following exceptions. In patients with IBD, the panel suggested Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine for patients older than 5 years of age, recombinant zoster vaccine for adults younger than 50 year of age, and hepatitis B vaccine for adults without a risk factor. Consensus was not reached, and recommendations were not made for 5 statements, due largely to lack of evidence, including double-dose hepatitis B vaccine, timing of influenza immunization in patients on biologics, pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines in adult patients without risk factors, and human papillomavirus vaccine in patients aged 27-45 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IBD may be at increased risk of some vaccine-preventable diseases. Therefore, maintaining appropriate vaccination status in these patients is critical to optimize patient outcomes. In general, IBD is not a contraindication to the use of inactivated vaccines, but immunosuppressive therapy may reduce vaccine responses.

Potential public health impact of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine among people aged 50 years and older in Beijing

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful, unilateral rash which occurs upon reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus due to age-related immunity decline or immuno-suppression. In 2019, the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) was the first vaccine to be approved in China for HZ prevention. This study aimed to estimate the potential public health impact of RZV vaccination, compared with the status quo of no vaccination, in individuals ≥50 years of age (YOA) in Beijing, by adapting the published ZOster ecoNomic Analysis (ZONA) model. We considered 5% and 50% vaccination coverage for the private market (near-term post-launch) and mass vaccination (long-term) settings respectively. In the base-case analysis of both market settings, second-dose compliance was set to 80%. Coverage and second-dose compliance rates were varied under scenario and sensitivity analyses. In the base case, mass vaccination with RZV was estimated to prevent 435,681 HZ cases, 51,558 postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) cases, and 15,703 cases of other HZ-related complications in the overall ≥50 YOA cohort over their remaining lifetime, compared with no vaccination. Under the same base-case scenario, 14,247 hospitalizations and 1,031,387 outpatient visits could be avoided. The 50-59 YOA cohort had the highest contributions to the overall reduction in HZ cases, its complications and related healthcare resource utilization. Results were robust under numerous scenario and sensitivity analyses. This analysis demonstrates the potential of RZV vaccination to substantially reduce the public health burden of HZ among individuals ≥50 YOA, and may inform appropriate vaccination strategies for HZ prevention, particularly in urban settings within China.