Cost effectiveness of adding 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate (PCV-7) vaccine to the Norwegian childhood vaccination program

Acute organ injury and long-term sequelae of severe pneumococcal infections

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) is a major public health problem, as it is a main cause of otitis media, community-acquired pneumonia, bacteremia, sepsis, and meningitis. Acute episodes of pneumococcal disease have been demonstrated to cause organ damage with lingering negative consequences. Cytotoxic products released by the bacterium, biomechanical and physiological stress resulting from infection, and the corresponding inflammatory response together contribute to organ damage accrued during infection. The collective result of this damage can be acutely life-threatening, but among survivors, it also contributes to the long-lasting sequelae of pneumococcal disease. These include the development of new morbidities or exacerbation of pre-existing conditions such as COPD, heart disease, and neurological impairments. Currently, pneumonia is ranked as the 9^th leading cause of death, but this estimate only considers short-term mortality and likely underestimates the true long-term impact of disease. Herein, we review the data that indicates damage incurred during acute pneumococcal infection can result in long-term sequelae which reduces quality of life and life expectancy among pneumococcal disease survivors.

Absence from day care or school and parental absence from work during children's respiratory infections

AIM

To investigate the social burden of nasopharyngeal detection of various respiratory viruses and the co-detection of viral and bacterial pathogens.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 737 children with a suspected respiratory tract infection or fever in a paediatric emergency department during one epidemiological year (2014-2015) in Finland. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were analysed with multiplex polymerase chain reaction for 16 viruses and 7 respiratory bacteria. Parents filled out a questionnaire regarding child's and parents' absence from day care, school, or work at the time of the visit and 14 days afterward.

RESULTS

The length of the children's absence from day care or school, or parental absence from work, did not significantly differ between the detected viral pathogens. Co-detection of any respiratory virus and Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae in the nasopharynx were associated with a 2.5-day (95% CI of the difference: 0.71 to 4.3) and 3.0-day (95% CI: 0.35 to 5.7) longer parental absence from work, respectively, compared with the detection of viruses alone when adjusted for age.

CONCLUSION

Nasopharyngeal detection of S. pneumoniae or H. influenzae was associated with an increase in the length of parental absence from work when compared with the detection of virus alone.

Recommendations and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) landscape evaluation for pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) in Europe: A systematic literature review

National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies evaluate the value of vaccines and provide decision-making authorities with recommendations. The availability of information on disease-burden evidence considered or required for the assessment of vaccines included in national immunization programs (NIPs) is limited. The aim of this review is to summarize the epidemiologic and health economic (HE) evidence considered by NITAGs/HTA agencies when evaluating pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) NIPs. A systematic literature review of national recommendation reports for PCV NIPs in children in 31 European countries, published since 2001, was performed using NITAG/HTA agency websites, Google, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. The presence of epidemiological data was mapped, HE data was extracted, and findings were summarized. A total of 46 records for 19 countries were identified. Fifteen countries' records included a recommendation concerning implementation of PCV NIP, switching from one PCV to another or a change in vaccination schedule within an existing NIP. All of these included epidemiological invasive pneumococcal disease data, and to varying degree epidemiological data on acute otitis media and pneumonia. HE data was referenced in 13 countries' records, with 8 countries providing in-depth details on cost-effectiveness analyses. Pediatric PCV NIP recommendations were published by 61% of European countries, with varying degree of details and decision rationale. Some countries only publish the HE aspect of their rationale. The identified material can provide insight and support local policymakers and clinicians how data influenced the decision-making process in their countries.

Pneumococcal Disease: A Systematic Review of Health Utilities, Resource Use, Costs, and Economic Evaluations of Interventions

BACKGROUND

Pneumococcal diseases cause substantial mortality, morbidity, and economic burden. Evidence on data inputs for economic evaluations of interventions targeting pneumococcal disease is critical.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize evidence on resource use, costs, health utilities, and cost-effectiveness for pneumococcal disease and associated interventions to inform future economic analyses.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EconLit, and Cochrane databases for peer-reviewed studies in English on pneumococcal disease that reported health utilities using direct or indirect valuation methods, resource use, costs, or cost-effectiveness of intervention programs, and summarized the evidence descriptively.

RESULTS

We included 383 studies: 9 reporting health utilities, 131 resource use, 160 economic costs of pneumococcal disease, 95 both resource use and costs, and 178 economic evaluations of pneumococcal intervention programs. Health state utility values ranged from 0 to 1 for both meningitis and otitis media and from 0.3 to 0.7 for both pneumonia and sepsis. Hospitalization was shortest for otitis media (range: 0.1-5 days) and longest for sepsis/septicemia (6-48). The main categories of costs reported were drugs, hospitalization, and household or employer costs. Resource use was reported in hospital length of stay and number of contacts with general practitioners. Costs and resource use significantly varied among population ages, disease conditions, and settings. Current vaccination programs for both adults and children, antibiotic use and outreach programs to promote vaccination, early disease detection, and educational programs are cost-effective in most countries.

CONCLUSION

This study has generated a comprehensive repository of health economic evidence on pneumococcal disease that can be used to inform future economic evaluations of pneumococcal disease intervention programs.

Inclusion of the value of herd immunity in economic evaluations of vaccines. A systematic review of methods used

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this review were to identify vaccine economic evaluations that include herd immunity and describe the methodological approaches used.

METHODS

We used Kim and Goldie's search strategy from a systematic review (1976-2007) of modelling approaches used in vaccine economic evaluations and additionally searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase for 2007-2015. Studies were classified according to modelling approach used. Methods for estimating herd immunity effects were described, in particular for the static models.

RESULTS

We identified 625 economic evaluations of vaccines against human-transmissible diseases from 1976 to 2015. Of these, 172 (28%) included herd immunity. While 4% of studies included herd immunity in 2001, 53% of those published in 2015 did this. Pneumococcal, human papilloma and rotavirus vaccines represented the majority of studies (63%) considering herd immunity. Ninety-five of the 172 studies utilised a static model, 59 applied a dynamic model, eight a hybrid model and ten did not clearly state which method was used. Relatively crude methods and assumptions were used in the majority of the static model studies.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of economic evaluations using a dynamic model has increased in recent years. However, 55% of the included studies used a static model for estimating herd immunity. Values from a static model can only be considered reliable if high quality surveillance data are incorporated into the analysis. Without this, the results are questionable and they should only be included in sensitivity analysis.

Impact of vaccine herd-protection effects in cost-effectiveness analyses of childhood vaccinations. A quantitative comparative analysis

BACKGROUND

Inclusion of vaccine herd-protection effects in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) can impact the CEAs-conclusions. However, empirical epidemiologic data on the size of herd-protection effects from original studies are limited.

METHODS

We performed a quantitative comparative analysis of the impact of herd-protection effects in CEAs for four childhood vaccinations (pneumococcal, meningococcal, rotavirus and influenza). We considered CEAs reporting incremental-cost-effectiveness-ratios (ICERs) (per quality-adjusted-life-years [QALY] gained; per life-years [LY] gained or per disability-adjusted-life-years [DALY] avoided), both with and without herd protection, while keeping all other model parameters stable. We calculated the size of the ICER-differences without vs with-herd-protection and estimated how often inclusion of herd-protection led to crossing of the cost-effectiveness threshold (of an assumed societal-willingness-to-pay) of $50,000 for more-developed countries or X3GDP/capita (WHO-threshold) for less-developed countries.

RESULTS

We identified 35 CEA studies (20 pneumococcal, 4 meningococcal, 8 rotavirus and 3 influenza vaccines) with 99 ICER-analyses (55 per-QALY, 27 per-LY and 17 per-DALY). The median ICER-absolute differences per QALY, LY and DALY (without minus with herd-protection) were $15,620 (IQR: $877 to $48,376); $54,871 (IQR: $787 to $115,026) and $49 (IQR: $15 to $1,636) respectively. When the target-vaccination strategy was not cost-saving without herd-protection, inclusion of herd-protection always resulted in more favorable results. In CEAs that had ICERs above the cost-effectiveness threshold without herd-protection, inclusion of herd-protection led to crossing of that threshold in 45% of the cases. This impacted only CEAs for more developed countries, as all but one CEAs for less developed countries had ICERs below the WHO-cost-effectiveness threshold even without herd-protection. In several analyses, recommendation for the adoption of the target vaccination strategy depended on the inclusion of the herd protection effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Inclusion of herd-protection effects in CEAs had a substantial impact in the estimated ICERs and made target-vaccination strategies more attractive options in almost half of the cases where ICERs were above the societal-willingness to pay threshold without herd-protection. More empirical epidemiologic data are needed to determine the size of herd-protection effects across diverse settings and also the size of negative vaccine effects, e.g. from serotype substitution.

More Use of Peritoneal Dialysis Gives Significant Savings: A Systematic Review and Health Economic Decision Model

Background

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are in need of renal replacement therapy as dialysis and/or transplantation. The prevalence of ESRD and, thus, the need for dialysis are constantly growing. The dialysis modalities are either peritoneal performed at home or hemodialysis (HD) performed in-center (hospital or satellite) or home. We examined effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of HD performed at different locations (hospital, satellite, and home) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home in the Norwegian setting.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review for patients above 18 years with end-stage renal failure requiring dialysis in several databases and performed several meta-analyses of existing literature. Mortality and major complications that required were our main clinical outcomes. The quality of the evidence for each outcome was evaluated using GRADE. Cost-effectiveness was assessed by developing a probabilistic Markov model. The analysis was carried out from a societal perspective, and effects were expressed in quality-adjusted life-years. Uncertainties in the base-case parameter values were explored with a probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Scenario analyses were conducted by increasing the proportion of patients receiving PD with a corresponding reduction in HD patients in-center both for Norway and Europian Union. We assumed an annual growth rate of 4% in the number of dialysis patients, and a relative distribution between PD and HD in-center of 30% and 70%, respectively.

Results

From a societal perspective and over a 5-year time horizon, PD was the most cost-effective dialysis alternative. We found no significant difference in mortality between peritoneal and HD modalities. Our scenario analyses showed that a shift toward more patients on PD (as a first choice) with a corresponding reduction in HD in-center gave a saving over a 5-year period of 32 and 10,623 million EURO, respectively, for Norway and the European Union.

Conclusions

PD was the most cost-effective dialysis alternative and was comparable with HD regarding efficacy outcomes. There are significant saving potentials if more end-stage renal patients are started on PD instead of HD.

Sources and Characteristics of Utility Weights for Economic Evaluation of Pediatric Vaccines: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pediatric vaccines for infectious diseases often requires quality-of-life (utility) weights.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate how utility weights have been elicited and used in this context.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted of studies published between January 1990 and July 2013 that elicited or used utility weights in cost-effectiveness analyses of vaccines for pediatric populations. The review focused on vaccines for 17 infectious diseases and is presented following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology.

RESULTS

A total of 6410 titles and abstracts and 225 full-text articles were reviewed. Of those selected for inclusion (n = 101), 15 articles described the elicitation of utility weights and 86 described economic modeling studies using utilities. Various methods were used to generate utilities, including time trade-off, contingent valuation, and willingness to pay, as well as a preference-based measure with associated value sets, such as the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire or the Health Utilities Index. In modeling studies, the source of utilities used was often unclear, poorly reported, or based on weak underlying evidence. We found no articles that reported on the elicitation or use of utilities in diphtheria, polio, or tetanus.

CONCLUSIONS

The scarcity of appropriate utility weights for vaccine-preventable infectious diseases in children and a lack of standardization in their use in economic assessments limit the ability to accurately assess the benefits associated with interventions to prevent infectious diseases. This is an issue that should be of concern to those making decisions regarding the prevention and treatment of infectious childhood illnesses.

Choosing between 7-, 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in childhood: a review of economic evaluations (2006-2014)

BACKGROUND

Seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7) have been used in children for more than a decade. Given the observed increase in disease caused by pneumococcal serotypes not covered by PCV7, an increasing number of countries are switching from 7-valent to 10- and 13-valent PCVs ("PCV10" and "PCV13"). Economic evaluations are important tools to inform decisions and price negotiations to make such a switch.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide a critical assessment of economic evaluations involving PCV10 or PCV13, published since 2006.

METHODS

We searched Scopus, ISI Web of Science (SCI and SSCI) and Pubmed to retrieve, select and review relevant studies, which were archived between 1st January 2006 and 31st January 2014. The review protocol involved standard extraction of assumptions, methods, results and sponsorships from the original studies.

RESULTS

Sixty-three economic evaluations on PCVs published since January 2006 were identified. About half of these evaluated PCV10 and/or PCV13, the subject of this review. At current prices, both PCV13 and PCV10 were likely judged preferable to PCV7. However, the combined uncertainty related to price differences, burden of disease, vaccine effectiveness, herd and serotype replacement effects determine the preference base for either PCV10 or PCV13. The pivotal assumptions and results of these analyses also depended on which manufacturer sponsored the study.

CONCLUSION

A more thorough exploration of uncertainty should be made in future analyses on this subject, as we lack understanding to adequately model herd and serotype replacement effects to reliably predict the population impact of PCVs. The introduction of further improved PCVs in an environment of evolving antibiotic resistance and under the continuing influence of previous PCVs implies that the complexity and data requirements for relevant analyses will further increase. Decision makers using these analyses should not just rely on an analysis from a single manufacturer.

Systematic review of incremental non-vaccine cost estimates used in cost-effectiveness analysis on the introduction of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines

OBJECTIVE

To review the approaches used in the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEAs) literature to estimate the cost of expanded program on immunization (EPI) activities, other than vaccine purchase, for rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines.

METHODS

A systematic review in PubMed and NHS EED databases of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines CEAs was done. Selected articles were read and information on how EPI costs were calculated was extracted. EPI costing approaches were classified according to the method or assumption used for estimation.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine studies that evaluated cost effectiveness of rotavirus (n=43) or pneumococcal (n=36) vaccines were identified. In general, there are few details on how EPI costs other than vaccine procurement were estimated. While 30 studies used some measurement of that cost, only one study on pneumococcal vaccine used a primary cost evaluation (bottom-up costing analysis) and one study used a costing tool. Twenty-seven studies (17 on rotavirus and 10 on pneumococcal vaccine) assumed the non-vaccine costs. Five studies made no reference to additional costs. Fourteen studies (9 rotavirus and 5 pneumococcal) did not consider any additional EPI cost beyond vaccine procurement. For rotavirus studies, the median for non-vaccine cost per dose was US$0.74 in developing countries and US$6.39 in developed countries. For pneumococcal vaccines, the median for non-vaccine cost per dose was US$1.27 in developing countries and US$8.71 in developed countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Many pneumococcal (52.8%) and rotavirus (60.4%) cost-effectiveness analyses did not consider additional EPI costs or used poorly supported assumptions. Ignoring EPI costs in addition to those for vaccine procurement in CEA analysis of new vaccines may lead to significant errors in the estimations of ICERs since several factors like personnel, cold chain, or social mobilization can be substantially affected by the introduction of new vaccines.

Cost-effectiveness of using 2 vs 3 primary doses of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Although effective in preventing pneumococcal disease, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is the most expensive vaccine on the routinely recommended pediatric schedule in the United States. We examined the cost-effectiveness of switching from 4 total doses to 3 total doses by removing the third dose in the primary series in the United States.

METHODS

We used a probabilistic model following a single birth cohort of 4.3 million to calculate societal cost savings and increased disease burden from removing the 6-month dose of PCV13. Based on modified estimates of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine from randomized trials and observational studies, we assumed that vaccine effectiveness under the 2 schedules is identical for the first 6 months of life and largely similar after administration of the 12- to 15-month booster dose.

RESULTS

Removing the third dose of PCV13 would annually save $500 million (in 2011$) but would also result in an estimated 2.5 additional deaths among inpatients with pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease. Such dose removal would also result in 261,000 estimated otitis media and 12,000 estimated pneumonia cases annually. These additional illnesses could be prevented through modest increases in coverage. Overall, societal savings per additional life-year lost would be ∼$6 million. When nonfatal outcomes are also considered, savings would range from $143,000 to $4 million per additional quality adjusted life-year lost, depending on the assumptions used for otitis media.

CONCLUSIONS

Sizable societal cost savings and a moderate pneumococcal disease increase could be expected from removing the PCV13 primary series' third dose.

[Hospital costs related to streptococcal meningitis among children in São José dos Campos, São Paulo State, Brazil]

Knowledge of hospital costs is highly important for public health decision-making. This study aimed to estimate direct hospital costs related to pneumococcal meningitis in children 13 years or younger in the city of São José dos Campos, São Paulo State, Brazil, from January 1999 to December 2008. Data were obtained from medical records. Hospital costs were calculated according to the mixed method for measurement of quantities of items with identified costs and value attribution to items consumed (micro-costing and gross-costing). All costs were calculated according to monetary values for November 2009 and in Brazilian currency (Real). Epi Info 3.5.1 was used for frequencies and means analysis. Forty-one cases were reported. Direct hospital costs varied from R$ 1,277.90 to R$ 19,887.56 (mean = R$ 5,666.43), or 10 to 20 times the mean cost of hospitalization for other diseases. Hospital staff labor was the highest cost, followed by medication, procedures, supplies, and lab tests.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: review of cost-effectiveness studies in Australia, North America and Europe

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is the first vaccine proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease, pneumonia and acute otitis media in children, and has been recommended for universal use in children in a number of high-income countries. The high cost of the vaccine relative to previous vaccines has generated interest in assessing its cost-effectiveness and numerous cost-effectiveness analyses of PCV have been performed in Australia, North America and Europe. The primary objectives of this review are to enhance the ability to make direct comparisons between these analyses, to aid in the identification and interpretation of methodological differences and to summarize the findings. Although these studies varied greatly in terms of methodology and assumptions, if and when indirect effects and quality-of-life improvements are taken into account, the cost-effectiveness ratios of PCV in these countries are likely to be within the ranges generally considered favorable vis-à-vis other health interventions.

Cost-effectiveness of polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination in people aged 65 and above in Poland

INTRODUCTION

Invasive pneumococcal disease is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and cost implications, which could be reduced by vaccination.

AIM

To assess the cost-effectiveness of a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in the elderly (65 and older) in Poland.

METHODS

A Markov model with a 1-year cycle length was developed, allowing up to 10 cohorts to enter the model over the lifetime horizon (35 years). In the base case, costs and benefits were assessed using the public health care payer (NFZ) perspective. The analysis included routine vaccination of all elderly and high-risk (HR) elderly versus no vaccination. The analysis assumed that the government would reimburse 50% of the vaccine price. Costs and benefits were discounted 5%, with costs expressed in 2009 Polish Zloty (PLN). Extensive sensitivity analyses were carried out.

RESULTS

PPV23 vaccination targeting all elderly and HR elderly in Poland would avoid 8,935 pneumococcal infections, 2,542 hospitalisations, 671 deaths and 5,886 infections, 1,673 hospitalisations and 441 deaths respectively. The incremental cost per QALY gained would be PLN 3,382 in all elderly and PLN2,148 in HR elderly.

CONCLUSION

Vaccinating adults 65 and older regardless of risk status with a 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine, is cost-effective, resulting in clinical and economic benefits including a non-negligible reduction of ambulatory doctor visits, hospitalizations and, deaths in Poland.

Prevention of pneumococcal diseases in the post-seven valent vaccine era: a European perspective

BACKGROUND

The burden of invasive pneumococcal disease in young children decreased dramatically following introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7). The epidemiology of S. pneumoniae now reflects infections caused by serotypes not included in PCV7. Recently introduced higher valency pneumococcal vaccines target the residual burden of invasive and non-invasive infections, including those caused by serotypes not included in PCV7. This review is based on presentations made at the European Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases in June 2011.

DISCUSSION

Surveillance data show increased circulation of the non-PCV7 vaccine serotypes 1, 3, 6A, 6C, 7 F and 19A in countries with routine vaccination. Preliminary evidence suggests that broadened serotype coverage offered by higher valency vaccines may be having an effect on invasive disease caused by some of those serotypes, including 19A, 7 F and 6C. Aetiology of community acquired pneumonia remains a difficult clinical diagnosis. However, recent reports indicate that pneumococcal vaccination has reduced hospitalisations of children for vaccine serotype pneumonia. Variations in serotype circulation and occurrence of complicated and non-complicated pneumonia caused by non-PCV7 serotypes highlight the potential of higher valency vaccines to decrease the remaining burden. PCVs reduce nasopharyngeal carriage and acute otitis media (AOM) caused by vaccine serotypes. Recent investigations of the interaction between S. pneumoniae and non-typeable H. influenzae suggest that considerable reduction in severe, complicated AOM infections may be achieved by prevention of early pneumococcal carriage and AOM infections. Extension of the vaccine serotype spectrum beyond PCV7 may provide additional benefit in preventing the evolution of AOM. The direct and indirect costs associated with pneumococcal disease are high, thus herd protection and infections caused by non-vaccine serotypes both have strong effects on the cost effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination. Recent evaluations highlight the public health significance of indirect benefits, prevention of pneumonia and AOM and coverage of non-PCV7 serotypes by higher valency vaccines.

SUMMARY

Routine vaccination has greatly reduced the burden of pneumococcal diseases in children. The pneumococcal serotypes present in the 7-valent vaccine have greatly diminished among disease isolates. The prevalence of some non-vaccine serotypes (e.g. 1, 7 F and 19A) has increased. Pneumococcal vaccines with broadened serotype coverage are likely to continue decreasing the burden of invasive disease, and community acquired pneumonia in children. Further reductions in pneumococcal carriage and increased prevention of early AOM infections may prevent the evolution of severe, complicated AOM. Evaluation of the public health benefits of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines should include consideration of non-invasive pneumococcal infections, indirect effects of vaccination and broadened serotype coverage.

Cost-effectiveness of conjugate pneumococcal vaccination in Singapore: comparing estimates for 7-valent, 10-valent, and 13-valent vaccines

INTRODUCTION

Although multiple studies of cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been conducted, no such study has examined Singapore's situation nor compared the licensed conjugate vaccines in an Asian population. This paper estimates the costs and public health impacts of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine programs, varying estimates of serotype replacement and herd immunity effects as key parameters in the analysis. Based in part on a 2008 analysis also presented here, Singapore has approved the PCV-7, PHiD-10, and PCV-13 pneumococcal conjugate vaccines as part of its National Childhood Immunisation Programme.

METHODS

An economic evaluation was performed using a Markov simulation model populated with Singapore-specific population parameters, vaccine costs, treatment costs, and disease incidence data. The vaccinated infant and child cohort of 226,000 was 6% of the Singapore resident population of 3.8 million. Vaccine efficacy estimates were constructed for PCV-7, PHiD-10, and PCV-13 vaccines based on their serotype coverage in Singapore and compared to 'no vaccination'. The model estimated impacts over a five-year time horizon with 3% per year discounting of costs and health effects. Costs were presented in 2010 U.S. dollars (USD) and Singapore dollars (SGD). Sensitivity analyses included varying herd immunity, serotype replacement rates, vaccine cost, and efficacy against acute otitis media.

RESULTS

Under base case assumptions for the revised analysis (i.e., herd effects in the unvaccinated population equivalent to 20% of direct effects) PCV-13 prevented 834 cases and 7 deaths due to pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia in the vaccinated population, and 952 cases and 191 deaths in the unvaccinated population over the 5-year time horizon. Including herd effects, the cost-effectiveness ratio for PCV-13 was USD $37,644 (SGD $51,854) per QALY. Without herd effects, however, the ratio was USD $204,535 (SGD $281,743) per QALY. The PCV-7 cost per QALY including herd effects was USD $43,275 (SGD $59,610) and for PHiD-10 the ratios were USD $45,100 (SGD $62,125). The original 2008 analysis, which had higher estimates of pneumonia prevention due to herd immunity and lower estimates of cost per dose, had found a cost-effectiveness ratio of USD $5562 (SGD $7661) per QALY for PCV-7.

CONCLUSIONS

When compared to cost-effectiveness thresholds recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), our 2008 analysis found that vaccination of infants in Singapore with PCV-7 was very cost-effective if herd immunity effects were present. However, knowledge on herd immunity and serotype replacement that emerged subsequent to this analysis changed our expectations about indirect effects. Given these changed inputs, our current estimates of infant vaccination against pneumococcal disease in Singapore find such programs to be moderately cost-effective compared to WHO thresholds. The different findings from the 2008 and 2011 analyses suggest that the dynamic issue of serotype replacement should be monitored post-licensure and, as changes occur, vaccine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analyses should be re-evaluated.

Cost effectiveness of pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccines: a comparative assessment of decision-making tools

BACKGROUND

Several decision support tools have been developed to aid policymaking regarding the adoption of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into national pediatric immunization programs. The lack of critical appraisal of these tools makes it difficult for decision makers to understand and choose between them. With the aim to guide policymakers on their optimal use, we compared publicly available decision-making tools in relation to their methods, influential parameters and results.

METHODS

The World Health Organization (WHO) requested access to several publicly available cost-effectiveness (CE) tools for PCV from both public and private provenance. All tools were critically assessed according to the WHO's guide for economic evaluations of immunization programs. Key attributes and characteristics were compared and a series of sensitivity analyses was performed to determine the main drivers of the results. The results were compared based on a standardized set of input parameters and assumptions.

RESULTS

Three cost-effectiveness modeling tools were provided, including two cohort-based (Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) ProVac Initiative TriVac, and PneumoADIP) and one population-based model (GlaxoSmithKline's SUPREMES). They all compared the introduction of PCV into national pediatric immunization program with no PCV use. The models were different in terms of model attributes, structure, and data requirement, but captured a similar range of diseases. Herd effects were estimated using different approaches in each model. The main driving parameters were vaccine efficacy against pneumococcal pneumonia, vaccine price, vaccine coverage, serotype coverage and disease burden. With a standardized set of input parameters developed for cohort modeling, TriVac and PneumoADIP produced similar incremental costs and health outcomes, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

Vaccine cost (dose price and number of doses), vaccine efficacy and epidemiology of critical endpoint (for example, incidence of pneumonia, distribution of serotypes causing pneumonia) were influential parameters in the models we compared. Understanding the differences and similarities of such CE tools through regular comparisons could render decision-making processes in different countries more efficient, as well as providing guiding information for further clinical and epidemiological research. A tool comparison exercise using standardized data sets can help model developers to be more transparent about their model structure and assumptions and provide analysts and decision makers with a more in-depth view behind the disease dynamics. Adherence to the WHO guide of economic evaluations of immunization programs may also facilitate this process. Please see related article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/9/55.

Cost effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination against acute otitis media in children: a review

While pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have shown to be highly effective against invasive pneumococcal disease, their potential effectiveness against acute otitis media (AOM) might become a major economic driver for implementing these vaccines in national immunization programmes. However, the relationship between the costs and benefits of available vaccines remains a controversial topic. Our objective is to systematically review the literature on the cost effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination against AOM in children. We searched PubMed, Cochrane and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination databases (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects [DARE], NHS Economic Evaluation Database [NHS EED] and Health Technology Assessment database [HTA]) from inception until 18 February 2010. We used the following keywords with their synonyms: 'otitis media', 'children', 'cost-effectiveness', 'costs' and 'vaccine'. Costs per AOM episode averted were calculated based on the information in this literature. A total of 21 studies evaluating the cost effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines were included. The quality of the included studies was moderate to good. The cost per AOM episode averted varied from &U20AC;168 to &U20AC;4214, and assumed incidence rates varied from 20,952 to 118,000 per 100,000 children aged 0-10 years. Assumptions regarding direct and indirect costs varied between studies. The assumed vaccine efficacy of the 7-valent pneumococcal CRM197-conjugate vaccine was mainly adopted from two trials, which reported 6-8% efficacy. However, some studies assumed additional effects such as herd immunity or only took into account AOM episodes caused by serotypes included in the vaccine, which resulted in efficacy rates varying from 12% to 57%. Costs per AOM episode averted were inversely related to the assumed incidence rates of AOM and to the estimated costs per AOM episode. The median costs per AOM episode averted tended to be lower in industry-sponsored studies. Key assumptions regarding the incidence and costs of AOM episodes have major implications for the estimated cost effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination against AOM. Uniform methods for estimating direct and indirect costs of AOM should be agreed upon to reliably compare the cost effectiveness of available and future pneumococcal vaccines against AOM.

Public health and economic impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in the United States

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has dramatically decreased pneumococcal disease incidence, and the 13-valent vaccine (PCV13) protects against 6 additional Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes. A decision-analytic model was constructed to evaluate the impact of infant vaccination with PCV13 versus PCV7 on pneumococcal disease incidence and mortality as well as the incremental benefit of a serotype catch-up program. PCV13 effectiveness was extrapolated from observed PCV7 data, using assumptions regarding serotype prevalence and PCV13 protection against additional serotypes. The model predicts that PCV13 is more effective and cost saving compared with PCV7, preventing 106,000 invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) cases and 2.9 million pneumonia cases, and saving $11.6 billion over a 10-year period. The serotype catch-up program would prevent an additional 12,600 IPD cases and 404,000 pneumonia cases, and save an additional $737 million compared with no catch-up program.

Public health and economic impact of vaccination with 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV7) in the context of the annual influenza epidemic and a severe influenza pandemic

BACKGROUND

Influenza pandemic outbreaks occurred in the US in 1918, 1957, and 1968. Historical evidence suggests that the majority of influenza-related deaths during the 1918 US pandemic were attributable to bacterial pneumococcal infections. The 2009 novel influenza A (H1N1) outbreak highlights the importance of interventions that may mitigate the impact of a pandemic.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model was constructed to evaluate the impact of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) on pneumococcal disease incidence and mortality during a typical influenza season (13/100) and a severe influenza pandemic (30/100). Outcomes were compared for current PCV7 vaccination practices vs. no vaccination. The model was estimated using published sources and includes indirect (herd) protection of non-vaccinated persons.

RESULTS

The model predicts that PCV7 vaccination in the US is cost saving for a normal influenza season, reducing pneumococcal-related costs by $1.6 billion. In a severe influenza pandemic, vaccination would save $7.3 billion in costs and prevent 512,000 cases of IPD, 719,000 cases of pneumonia, 62,000 IPD deaths, and 47,000 pneumonia deaths; 84% of deaths are prevented due to indirect (herd) protection in the unvaccinated.

CONCLUSIONS

PCV7 vaccination is highly effective and cost saving in both normal and severe pandemic influenza seasons. Current infant vaccination practices may prevent >1 million pneumococcal-related deaths in a severe influenza pandemic, primarily due to herd protection.

The impact of indirect (herd) protection on the cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

BACKGROUND

The heptavalent pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (PCV7) confers protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by serotypes that are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In 2000, the 7 serotypes covered by PCV7 accounted for 80% to 90% of serotypes isolated from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid of children aged <6 years in the United States. A previous review of the literature spanning the years 1998 to 2005 pertaining to the incidence of IPD among nonimmunized individuals in countries with universal PCV7 immunization suggested an indirect protective effect (herd protection, or community immunity) after widespread vaccination. Consideration of indirect protection against IPD may enhance cost-benefit evaluations of vaccination programs.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this analysis was to review the literature on cost-effectiveness analyses of PCV7 vaccination to determine whether inclusion of the indirect effect in decision-analysis models substantially affects the cost-effectiveness findings in favor of vaccination.

METHODS

A literature review of cost-effectiveness analyses of PCV7 vaccination was conducted using the DIMDI (Deutschen Institut fur Medizinische Dokumentation und Information) superbase, which comprises 12 databases, to identify articles published between January 2000 and October 2006 using the search terms 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine AND herd immunity/herd effect, and 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine AND cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, or cost-benefit analyses. Monetary values were converted to euros and inflated to 2006 values, and events avoided were converted to rates per 100,000 vaccinated to allow comparison across studies. The sensitivity analyses from the models that included indirect effects were examined.

RESULTS

There was wide variability in the health-economic results of the 16 studies that met the inclusion criteria. In studies that did not include indirect effects, the adjusted cost per life-year gained ranged from cost saving to euro140,723 from the societal perspective and from euro56,724 to euro324,218 from the payer perspective. In the 4 studies that included indirect effects, a significant and consistent improvement was seen in the health-economic results in favor of vaccination with PCV7. No trends in variability across time or geographic region were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Indirect effects had a significant effect on cost-effectiveness, as seen in the sensitivity analyses. Future models should include indirect effects in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of PCV7.

[Prevention of respiratory tract diseases]

There are multiple possibilities for pulmonary or bronchial damage and their number exceeds that for the other organ systems dealt with in this issue. This multiplicity of diseases which are at least in part attributable to exogenous damage gives rise to manifold approaches to prevention. This overview does not claim to be complete. It is however intended to clarify the possibilities that exist for the prevention of pulmonary diseases. In addition, it intends to show that effective primary and occasionally secondary and tertiary prevention is inadequately utilized in pulmonology or not even used at all. Against the background that individual preventive measures in pulmonology are considerably more successful than curative measures, also from a health economics point of view, various options for successful prevention are described. The great need for studies on the effectiveness of preventive strategies is also addressed.

Cost effectiveness analysis of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Germany considering herd immunity effects

BACKGROUND

In Germany the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has been recommended as a general infant vaccination since 2006. Data from similar programmes in the USA have reported a reduction of pneumococcal diseases in both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, suggesting herd immunity effects. This study analyses the cost-effectiveness of a general vaccination with PCV7 in Germany based on these findings.

METHODS

A Markov model adapts efficacy and herd immunity data to the German population. Further main model inputs are incidence, vaccination uptake, serotype distribution, case fatality rates, and vaccination and health-care costs.

RESULTS

A general vaccination with PCV7 would avoid about 232,000 pneumococcal infections and 1,879 premature deaths per year in Germany. From the health-care payer's perspective, direct cost savings would outweigh vaccination expenditures by a ratio of 1:1.16. The sensitivity analysis shows that these estimates are quite conservative.

CONCLUSION

Based on the health-economic evaluation, the authors recommend the continuation of the general recommendation of PCV7 according to the 3 + 1 schedule within the German Statutory Health Insurance.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a universal vaccination programme with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) in Sweden

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) has proved to be highly effective against invasive pneumococcal disease and has also provided some protection against all-cause pneumonia and acute otitis media. The objective of this study was to evaluate the projected health benefits, costs and cost-effectiveness of vaccination with the 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine compared with no vaccination, in all infants in Sweden, taking herd immunity into account. A Markov model was used and a hypothetical birth cohort was simulated for a lifelong perspective. The results show that vaccination of 1 cohort could potentially prevent 9 cases of pneumococcal meningitis, 22 cases of pneumococcal septicaemia, 509 cases of hospitalized pneumonia, 7812 cases of acute otitis media, and 2.7 fatalities, among children 0-4 y of age and 6 episodes of pneumococcal meningitis and 167 cases of pneumococcal septicaemia among adults. The incremental cost per QALY and LY gained was estimated to Euro 29,200 and Euro 51,400, respectively. When herd immunity was accounted for, the cost per QALYand LY gained was estimated to Euro 5500 and Euro 6600, respectively. Thus, the health benefits of a national vaccination programmeme can be achieved within a 'moderate' or 'low' cost per QALY gained.

Economic evaluation of a universal childhood pneumococcal conjugate vaccination strategy in Ireland

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing a universal infant 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) vaccination program in the Irish health-care setting from the health-care payers' perspective.

METHODS

A model was constructed in MS Excel to follow a cohort of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from birth over a 5-year period. The reduction in events that would be associated with PCV7 vaccination and the mortality and cost resulting from these events were analyzed. In a separate submodel, the effect of herd immunity was investigated.

RESULTS

Implementing a PCV7 vaccine program in Ireland in a birth cohort of 61,000 infants would be expected to prevent 7703 cases of pneumococcal-related infections over 5 years, resulting in costs avoided of 2.05 million euros increasing to 4.6 million euros if the effect of herd immunity was included. The baseline incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 249,591 euros/life years gained (LYG), which reduced to 5997 euros/LYG when the effect of herd immunity was included.

CONCLUSIONS

A universal infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccination could be considered highly cost-effective in the Irish health-care setting from a health-care payers' perspective, if viewed in terms of the herd immunity effect. The results of this study have positive ramifications for countries in the early stages of health technology assessment.

Effectiveness of a 2+1 dose schedule pneumococcal conjugate vaccination programme on invasive pneumococcal disease among children in Norway

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was licensed in Norway in 2001. In July 2006, PCV-7 was introduced in the Norwegian Childhood Vaccination Programme in a 2+1 dose schedule, with immunizations administered at 3, 5 and 12 months of age. PCV-7 was offered through the vaccination programme to all children born from January 2006, i.e. a catch-up for children aged 3-6 months. Prior to 2006 the use of PCV-7 was negligible. The effectiveness of the PCV-7 vaccination programme was assessed using data on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence obtained from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases, serotype distribution from the National Reference Laboratory for Pneumococci, and vaccine coverage and vaccination status from the Norwegian National Vaccination Register. Vaccine coverage quickly reached high levels; 95% of children >3 months born from January 2006 had received at least one immunization with PCV-7. The incidence rate of IPD among children <2 years rapidly declined; the rate of vaccine serotype IPD in this age group fell from an average of 47.1 cases/100,000 population in the 2 years prior to PCV-7 introduction to 13.7 cases/100,000 population in 2007. The incidence rate of nonvaccine serotype IPD remained stable. The vaccine programme effectiveness was estimated to be 74% (95% CI 57-85%). No vaccine failure was seen after complete primary immunization with two vaccine doses. Our findings indicate that PCV-7 provides highly effective protection against vaccine serotype IPD when administered in a 2+1 dose schedule.

Nasopharyngeal colonization: a target for pneumococcal vaccination

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), licensed in 2000, is highly efficient in preventing serious disease caused by serotypes in the vaccine and also prevents symptomless colonization of the nasopharynx. Prevention of this first step in the infection cycle has important consequences: it reduces chances of spread of the infection and indirectly protects from disease. Through these indirect effects, the protection afforded by the vaccine extends to the whole population, including those not vaccinated (herd immunity). Already now, after 5 years of wide use of PCV for infant immunization in the USA, more cases are prevented through the indirect effects than by vaccine-induced immunity in those vaccinated. The extended protection increases the cost-effectiveness of PCV and should clearly encourage its use in poorly resourced countries. However, the accumulated experience also shows that the herd immunity, due to PCV, is partly offset by replacement of the vaccine serotypes by other, nonvaccine serotypes. Owing to the general reduced virulence of the latter, this has only had a modest effect on disease, but the possibility of more virulent nonvaccine serotypes arising cannot be ignored and should be the focus of continued surveillance.