Exploratory Analysis of the Economically Justifiable Price of a Hypothetical RSV Vaccine for Older Adults in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

Perceptions about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and attitudes toward the RSV vaccine among the general public in China: A cross-sectional survey

Our study aims to assess the public's perceptions of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and attitudes toward the RSV vaccine and to identify associated factors in China. A nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted using an online platform between August 16 and September 14, 2023. Questions related to socio-demographics, awareness, knowledge, perceptions of susceptibility and severity of RSV, and attitudes toward the RSV vaccine were included in the questionnaire. We used the chi-square test and logistic regression model to explore the associated factors. Overall, 2133 individuals were included in this study. Nearly a quarter of participants (24.3%) indicated that they had never heard of RSV. The proportion of individuals aged over 50 years reporting never having heard of RSV (36.5%) and having a low knowledge level of RSV (55.3%) was significantly higher that of other younger age groups. More than half of individuals (55.7%) exhibited low level of perceptions of susceptibility concerning RSV infection. A total of 68.4% of the participants expressed willingness to receive the RSV vaccine. Younger age was positively associated with a higher willingness to be vaccinated. The most frequent reason for declining the vaccine was "Concern about vaccine's safety or side effects." About 60% of individuals considered a price of RSV vaccine below 200 CNY (28 USD) as acceptable. The awareness and perceived susceptibility to RSV infection were limited to the Chinese public. It is necessary to take measures to address the low awareness and knowledge of RSV and acceptability of the RSV vaccine among older adults.

Exploratory analysis of the economically justifiable price of nirsevimab for healthy late-preterm and term infants in Colombia

INTRODUCTION

Respiratory syncytial virus infection is the leading cause of lower respiratory infection globally. Recently, nirsevimab has been approved to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. This study explores the economically justifiable price of nirsevimab for preventing RSV infection in Colombia's children under 1 year of age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A static model was developed using the decision tree microsimulation to estimate the quality-adjusted costs and life years of two interventions: a single intramuscular dose of nirsevimab versus not applying nirsevimab. This analysis was made during a time horizon of 1 year and from a societal perspective.

RESULTS

The annual savings in Colombia associated with this cost per dose ranged from U$ 2.5 to 4.1 million. Based on thresholds of U$ 4828, U$ 5128, and U$ 19 992 per QALY evaluated in this study, we established economically justifiable drug acquisition prices of U$ 21.88, U$ 25.04, and U$ 44.02 per dose of nirsevimab.

CONCLUSION

the economically justifiable cost for nirsevimab in Colombia is between U$ 21 to U$ 44 per dose, depending on the willingness to pay used to decide its implementation. This result should encourage more studies in the region that optimize decision-making processes when incorporating this drug into the health plans of each country.

Comment on Postma et al. Predicted Public Health and Economic Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination with Variable Duration of Protection for Adults ≥60 Years in Belgium. Vaccines 2023, 11, 990

Presently, there are at least five important vaccine producers that have already launched or intend to launch a new vaccine designed to prevent infections caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which is highly prevalent in the youngest as well as the oldest age groups [...].

Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines for Older Adults in Hong Kong

Two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines (AREXVY® and ABRYSVO®) were recently approved for older adults in the US. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® from the Hong Kong public healthcare provider's perspective. A two-year decision-analytical model was developed to examine the outcomes of a single RSV vaccination (AREXVY® or ABRYSVO®) compared to no vaccination. Primary outcomes included RSV-related health outcomes, direct medical costs, quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) loss, and incremental cost per QALY (ICER). RSV vaccines are not yet marketed in Hong Kong, base-case analysis, therefore, benchmarked US RSV vaccine prices at 4 levels (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%). AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® (versus no vaccination) gained 0.000568 QALY and 0.000647 QALY, respectively. ICERs of ABRYSVO® (26,209 USD/QALY) and AREXVY® (47,485 USD/QALY) were lower than the willingness-to-pay threshold (49,594 USD/QALY) at 25% US vaccine price. The RSV attack rate was a common influential factor at all vaccine price levels. The probabilities of AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® to be most cost-effective were 0.10% and 97.68%, respectively, at 25% US vaccine price. Single vaccination of ABRYSVO® or AREXVY® for older adults appears to gain QALYs over 2 years in Hong Kong. The cost-effectiveness of AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® is subject to vaccine price and RSV attack rate.

Predicted Public Health and Economic Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination with Variable Duration of Protection for Adults ≥60 Years in Belgium

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in older adults. This study used a static, cohort-based decision-tree model to estimate the public health and economic impact of vaccination against RSV in Belgians aged ≥60 years compared with no vaccination for different vaccine duration of protection profiles from a healthcare payer perspective. Three vaccine protection durations were compared (1, 3, and 5 years), and several sensitivity and scenario analyses were performed. Results showed that an RSV vaccine with a 3-year duration of protection would prevent 154,728 symptomatic RSV-ARI cases, 3688 hospitalizations, and 502 deaths over three years compared to no vaccination in older adults and would save EUR 35,982,857 in direct medical costs in Belgium. The number needed to vaccinate to prevent one RSV-ARI case was 11 for the 3-year duration profile, while it was 28 and 8 for the 1- and 5-year vaccine duration profiles, respectively. The model was generally robust in sensitivity analyses varying key input values. This study suggested that vaccination could substantially decrease the public health and economic burden of RSV in adults ≥60 years in Belgium, with benefits increasing with a longer duration of vaccine protection.

Vaccine-Preventable Hospitalisations from Seasonal Respiratory Diseases: What Is Their True Value?

Hospitals in England experience extremely high levels of bed occupancy in the winter. In these circumstances, vaccine-preventable hospitalisations due to seasonal respiratory infections have a high cost because of the missed opportunity to treat other patients on the waiting list. This paper estimates the number of hospitalisations that current vaccines against influenza, pneumococcal disease (PD), COVID-19, and a hypothetical Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine, could prevent in the winter among older adults in England. Their costs were quantified using a conventional reference costing method and a novel opportunity costing approach considering the net monetary benefit (NMB) obtained from alternative uses of the hospital beds freed-up by vaccines. The influenza, PD and RSV vaccines could collectively prevent 72,813 bed days and save over £45 million in hospitalisation costs. The COVID-19 vaccine could prevent over 2 million bed days and save £1.3 billion. However, the value of hospital beds freed up by vaccination is likely to be 1.1-2 times larger (£48-93 million for flu, PD and RSV; £1.4-2.8 billion for COVID-19) when quantified in opportunity cost terms. Considering opportunity costs is key to ensuring maximum value is obtained from preventative budgets, as reference costing may significantly underestimate the true value of vaccines.