Cost-effectiveness analysis of the available pneumococcal conjugated vaccines for children under five years in Colombia

Pneumococcal Vaccination in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cost-Effectiveness Studies

OBJECTIVES

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly reduced disease burden caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the incremental net benefit (INB) of the 13-valent PCV (PCV13) and 10-valent PCV (PCV10) in children.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive search in several databases published before May 2022. Studies were included if they were cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analyses of PCV13 or PCV10 compared with no vaccination or with each other in children. Various monetary units were converted to purchasing power parity, adjusted to 2021 US dollars. The INBs were calculated and then pooled across studies stratified by country income level, perspective, and consideration of herd effects, using a random-effect model.

RESULTS

Seventy studies were included. When herd effects were considered, PCV13 was cost-effective compared with PCV10 from the payer perspective in both high-income countries (HICs) (INB, $103.94; 95% confidence interval, $75.28-$132.60) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (INB, $53.49; 95% confidence interval, $30.42-$76.55) with statistical significance. These findings were robust across a series of sensitivity analyses. PCV13 was cost-effective compared with no vaccination across perspectives and consideration of herd effects in both HICs and LMICs, whereas findings were less consistent for PCV10.

CONCLUSION

PCVs were generally cost-effective compared with no vaccination in HICs and LMICs. Our study found that PCV13 was cost-effective compared with PCV10 when herd effects were considered from the payer perspective in both HICs and LMICs. The results are sensitive to the consideration of herd effects.

Cost-effectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine compared to the 10-valent vaccine in children: predictive analysis in the Ecuadorian context

Objective

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and economic impact of changing childhood vaccination from the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) to the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in the context of the Ecuadorian health system.

Methods

A Markov model was developed based on a hypothetical cohort of children <1 year old with a 2 + 1 vaccination schedule. The model incorporates the most impactful chronic sequelae of invasive pneumococcal disease: bilateral hearing loss, spasticity, neurological deficit, hydrocephalus and epilepsy. At the end of each annual Markov cycle, the children heal with/without sequelae or die. A time horizon of 5 years was considered. The analysis was done from the perspective of the Ministry of Health.

Key findings

Vaccination with PCV13 is cost-saving (US$ −2940/QALY) in relation to PCV10 considering indirect effects (‘herd effect’) of childhood vaccination over adult population (>65 years). So, PCV13 reduces incident cases of IPD in this adult population by 27.8% compared to PCV10. Simulation of the model in a cohort of 100 000 children <1 year old showed an incidence of 25 cases of IPD with PCV13 versus 40 cases with PCV10, that is, a reduction of 37.5%. A reduction compared to PCV10 in the incidence of pneumonia and meningitis of 30.2 and 57.1%, respectively, was demonstrated. PCV13 decreased mortality by 32% compared to PCV10.

Conclusions

Vaccination with PCV13 is cost-saving in the Ecuadorian health context and significantly reduces morbidity and mortality in children <5 years and in adults >65 years due to the herd effect. The probabilistic analysis showed consistency in the results.

Programmatic Cost-Effectiveness of a Second-Time Visit to Detect New Tuberculosis and Diabetes Mellitus in TB Contact Tracing in Myanmar

BACKGROUND

Integration of diabetes mellitus screening in home visits for contact tracing for tuberculosis could identify hidden patients with either tuberculosis or diabetes mellitus. However, poor compliance to the first home screening has been reported. A second time visit not only increases screening compliance but also the cost. This study aimed to determine if an additional second time visit was cost effective based on the health system perspective of the tuberculosis contact tracing program in Myanmar.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was based on usual contact tracing activity in the Yangon Region, Myanmar, from April to December 2018 with integration of diabetes mellitus screening and an additional home visit to take blood glucose tests along with repeated health education and counseling to stress the need for a chest X-ray. New tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus cases detected were the main outcome variables. Programmatic operational costs were calculated based on a standardized framework for cost evaluation on tuberculosis screening. The effectiveness of an additional home visit was estimated using disability-adjusted life years averted. The willingness to pay threshold was taken as 1250.00 US dollars gross domestic product per capita of the country.

RESULTS

Single and additional home visits could lead to 42.5% and 65.0% full compliance and 27.2 and 9.3 additional years of disability-adjusted life years averted, respectively. The respective base costs and additional costs were 3280.95 US dollars and 1989.02 US dollars. The programmatic costs for an extra unit of disability-adjusted life years averted was 213.87 US dollars, which was lower than the willingness to pay threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

From the programmatic perspective, conducting the second time visit for tuberculosis contact tracing integrated with diabetes mellitus screening was found to be cost effective.

Inclusion of Additional Unintended Consequences in Economic Evaluation: A Systematic Review of Immunization and Tuberculosis Cost-Effectiveness Analyses

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to review economic evaluations of immunization and tuberculosis to determine the extent to which additional unintended consequences were taken into account in the analysis and to describe the methodological approaches used to estimate these, where possible.

METHODS

We sourced the vaccine economic evaluations from a previous systematic review by Nymark et al. (2009-2015) and searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase from 2015 to 2019 using the same search strategy. For tuberculosis economic evaluations, we extracted studies from 2009 to 2019 that were published in a previous review by Siapka et al. We followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidance. Studies were classified according to the categories and subcategories (e.g., herd immunity, non-specific effects, and labor productivity) defined in a framework identifying additional unintended consequences by Nymark and Vassall. Where possible, methods for estimating the additional unintended consequences categories and subcategories were described. We evaluated the reporting quality of included studies according to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) extraction guideline.

RESULTS

We identified 177 vaccine cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) between 2009 and 2019 that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 98 included unintended consequences. Of the total 98 CEAs, overall health consequence categories were included 73 times; biological categories: herd immunity 43 times; pathogen response: resistance 15 times; and cross-protection 15 times. For health consequences pertaining to the supply-side (health systems) categories, side effects were included five times. On the nonhealth demand side (intrahousehold), labor productivity was included 60 times. We identified 29 tuberculosis CEAs from 2009 to 2019 that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, six articles included labor productivity, four included indirect transmission effects, and one included resistance. Between 2009 and 2019, only 34% of tuberculosis CEAs included additional unintended consequences, compared with 55% of vaccine CEAs.

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of additional unintended consequences in economic evaluations of immunization and tuberculosis continues to be limited. Additional unintended consequences of economic benefits, such as those examined in this review and especially those that occur outside the health system, offer valuable information to analysts. Further work on appropriate ways to value these additional unintended consequences is still warranted.

Continuous Effectiveness of Pneumococcal 13-Valent Conjugate Vaccine on Pediatric Pneumococcal Otomastoiditis: Results of 15 Years of Active/Prospective Surveillance in a Mexican Hospital on the Mexico-US Border

Introduction

The effectiveness of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) on sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and even acute otitis media has been proved in many studies. Nonetheless, the impact of PCV13 on otomastoiditis (OM) in children has barely been reviewed. In the past, we published a 13 years pneumococcal OM study from our hospital. This is a continuation of our active surveillance and is the first Latin American, prospective study examining the effectiveness of this vaccine on pneumococcal pediatric OM.

Methods

Active surveillance identifying patients < 16 years of age with OM admitted at the “Hospital General de Tijuana” was performed from October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2019. Diagnosis of OM was based on clinical exam (postauricular tenderness, erythema, and swelling causing protrusion of the auricle) and computerized tomographic signs (opacification of the mastoid air cells and middle ear). We used either conventional culturing or PCR to isolate bacterial pathogens, while to further Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype identification we used the Quellung Reaction (Statens Serum Institute^®) or PCR. To assess pneumococcal conjugate vaccines effectiveness (VE), we counted cases per month before any pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was implemented (19 months surveillance), during the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) use in the pediatric community (61 months surveillance), after PCV13 implementation in children (100 months surveillance), and calculated as follows: VE = 1 -(cases per month with specific pneumococcal conjugate vaccination/cases per month without any pneumococcal conjugate vaccination).

Results

Following 15 years of active surveillance, we identified 21 cases of OM. At admission the median age of patients was 38 months (six months to 15 years old), the median hospitalization days was 12 (5 to 115). All patients underwent mastoidectomy. Identification of bacterial pathogens was possible in 19 (90.5%), among which. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the leading cause with 15 cases (79%). PCV7 VE was 27.8%, however, after PCV13 introduction, VE increased to 68%, with only one case of pneumococcal OM in the last two years, without incremental OM cases by other bacteriae.

Conclusion

After 15 years of active/prospective surveillance in our hospital, a continuous and high VE (68%) of PCV13 on pediatric OM caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae has been found, with only one case in the last two years.

Cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines among adults over 50 years old in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

This systematic review aims to provide a critical summary of economic evaluations of pneumococcal vaccines for adults aged 50 years or older in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): a 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), and a 13-valent conjugated vaccine (PCV13).

AREAS COVERED

We systematically searched for studies published until October2020 in PubMed and Web of Science. Searching strategies in this literature review were done using various combinations of terms related to 'economic evaluation or cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit or cost-utility,' 'pneumococcal or PPSV or PCV or PPV,' and 'vaccine or vaccination or immunization' in all fields. To be included, each study had to meet our inclusion criteria. Two authors reviewed and extracted studies. From 1,711 records, we included 18 studies for this review. All 18 studies were cost-effectiveness analysis. Compared with no vaccination, either PPSV23 or PCV13 was economically favorable, highly cost-effective, and in many cases, cost-saving for older adults. Studies compared one vaccination (PPSV23 or PCV13) over another and had different findings.

EXPERT OPINION

While all studies recommended either PPSV23 or PCV13 for older adults in LMICs, substantial questions about potential bias in studies and whether conclusions hold after including the impact of indirect protection.

Budget impact analysis of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Colombia

Objective: Pneumococcal diseases including invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), pneumonia, and acute otitis media (AOM) impose a substantial public health burden. This study performed a budget impact analysis of the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in the National Immunization Program (NIP) in Colombia.Methods: We compared the direct medical cost of the scenario without and with PCV vaccination using either pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) or 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) over 5 years (2020-2024) from the health-care system perspective. Vaccine efficacy estimates were obtained from published sources and vaccine prices were taken from the Pan-American Health Organization Revolving Fund. Vaccine coverage was assumed to be 90% based on Colombia data.Results: Using PHiD-CV in the NIP in Colombia would reduce the estimated cost for treating pneumococcal disease by US$46.1 m over the 2020-2024 period (US$40.2 m using PCV-13), with a budget impact of US$100.1 m for PHiD-CV (US$121.4 m for PCV-13), and would cost US$3.1 m less per year on vaccine doses than using PCV-13.Conclusion: These findings are potentially valuable for the selection of vaccines for their national immunization programs under conditions of budgetary constraint.

Availability of secondary healthcare data for conducting pharmacoepidemiology studies in Colombia: A systematic review

Real-world evidence (RWE) is emerging as a fundamental component of the post-marketing evaluation of medicinal products. Even though the focus on RWE studies has increased in Colombia, the availability of secondary data sources to perform this type of research is not well documented. Thus, we aimed at identifying and characterizing secondary data sources available in Colombia. We performed a systematic literature review on PubMed, EMBASE, and VHL using a combination of controlled vocabulary and keywords for the concepts of electronic health records, epidemiologic studies and Colombia. A total of 323 publications were included. These comprised 123 identified secondary data sources including pharmacy dispensing databases, government datasets, disease registries, insurance databases, and electronic heath records, among others. These data sources were mostly used for cross-sectional studies focused on disease epidemiology in a specific population. Almost all databases (95%) contained demographic information, followed by pharmacological treatment (44%) and diagnostic tests (39%). Even though the database owner was identifiable in 94%, access information was only available in 44% of the articles. Only a pharmacy-dispensing database, local cancer registries, and government databases included a description regarding the quality of the information available. The diversity of databases identified shows that Colombia has a high potential to continue enhancing its RWE strategy. Greater efforts are required to improve data quality and accessibility. The linkage between databases will expand data pooling and integration to boost the translational potential of RWE.

Estimating the Impact of Switching from a Lower to Higher Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Colombia, Finland, and The Netherlands: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Widespread use of ten-valent (Synflorix™, GSK) or 13-valent (Prevenar 13™; Pfizer) conjugate vaccination programs has effectively reduced invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) globally. However, IPD caused by serotypes not contained within the respective vaccines continues to increase, notably serotypes 3, 6A, and 19A in countries using lower-valent vaccines. Our objective was to estimate the clinical and economic benefit of replacing PCV10 with PCV13 in Colombia, Finland, and The Netherlands.

METHODS

Country-specific databases, supplemented with published and unpublished data, informed the historical incidence of pneumococcal disease as well as direct and indirect medical costs. A decision-analytic forecasting model was applied, and both costs and outcomes were discounted. The observed invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) trends from each country were used to forecast the future number of IPD cases given a PCV13 or PCV10 program.

RESULTS

Over a 5-year time horizon, a switch to a PCV13 program was estimated to reduce overall IPD among 0-2 year olds by an incremental - 37.6% in Colombia, - 32.9% in Finland, and - 26% in The Netherlands, respectively, over PCV10. Adults > 65 years experienced a comparable incremental decrease in overall IPD in Colombia (- 32.2%), Finland (- 15%), and The Netherlands (- 3.7%). Serotypes 3, 6A, and 19A drove the incremental decrease in disease for PCV13 over PCV10 in both age groups. A PCV13 program was dominant in Colombia and Finland and cost-effective in The Netherlands at 1 × GDP per capita (€34,054/QALY).

CONCLUSION

In Colombia, Finland, and The Netherlands, countries with diverse epidemiologic and population distributions, switching from a PCV10 to PCV13 program would significantly reduce the burden of IPD in all three countries in as few as 5 years.

Updated Guidelines for the Management of Acute Otitis Media in Children by the Italian Society of Pediatrics: Prevention

BACKGROUND

In recent years, new information has been acquired regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of acute otitis media (AOM). The Italian Pediatric Society, therefore, decided to issue an update to the Italian Pediatric Society guidelines published in 2010.

METHODS

The search was conducted on Pubmed, and only those studies regarding the pediatric age alone, in English or Italian, published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018, were included. Each study included in the review was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology. The quality of the systematic reviews was evaluated using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) 2 appraisal tool. The guidelines were formulated using the GRADE methodology by a multidisciplinary panel of experts.

RESULTS

The importance of eliminating risk factors (passive smoking, environmental pollution, use of pacifier, obesity, limitation of day-care center attendance) and the promotion of breastfeeding and hygiene practices (nasal lavages) was confirmed. The importance of pneumococcal vaccination in the prevention of AOM was reiterated with regard to the prevention of both the first episode of AOM and recurrences. Grommets can be inserted in selected cases of recurrent AOM that did not respond to all other prevention strategies. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not recommended for the prevention of recurrent AOM, except in certain carefully selected cases. The use of complementary therapies, probiotics, xylitol and vitamin D is not recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevention of episodes of AOM requires the elimination of risk factors and pneumococcal and influenza vaccination. The use of other products such as probiotics and vitamin D is not supported by adequate evidence.

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.

Cost-effectiveness of childhood pneumococcal vaccination program in Ethiopia: results from a quasi-experimental evaluation

BACKGROUND

Ethiopia was among the 15 countries that, together accounted for 64% of the world's severe episodes of pneumonia among children below the age of 5 in 2011. To reduce this burden, the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 10) was introduced into the general childhood national immunization program in Ethiopia in 2011. However, there is little evidence on its cost-effectiveness, and the aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the introduction of PCV 10 vaccination in the Ethiopian setting.

METHODS

The cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out based on a quasi-experimental evaluation of implementing PCV 10 at the Butajira rural health program site in Ethiopia. The intervention and the control groups consisted 876 and 1010 children, respectively. Using data from program site's surveillance system database as a framework, health outcome and vaccination data were collected from medical records, immunization registration books and reports. Disability- Adjusted Life Year (DALY) was a main health outcome metric complimented by incidence of acute lower respiratory infection/1000-person years. Vaccination and treatment costs were collected by document review and cross-sectional household survey.

RESULTS

In the intervention cohort, 626 of 876 (71.5%) children received PCV 10 vaccination. Until the first year of life, the incidence of acute lower respiratory infection was higher in the intervention group. After the first year of life, the incidence rate was 35.2 per 1000-person years in the intervention group compared to 60.4 per 1000-person years in the control group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per averted DALY for the intervention group during the total follow-up period was (2013 US$) 394.3 (undiscounted) and 413.8 (discounted). The ICER per averted DALY excluding the first year of life was (2013 US$) 225 (undiscounted) and 292.7 (discounted).

CONCLUSION

Compared to the WHO's suggested cost-effectiveness threshold value, the results indicate that the general childhood PCV 10 vaccination was a cost-effective intervention in the Butajira rural health program site.

Cost-Effectiveness Comparison of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in Turkish Children

BACKGROUND

The 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is used for universal infant vaccination in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the cost effectiveness of replacing PCV13 with pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV).

METHODS

A Markov cohort model with monthly cycles following 1 cohort of infants over a 10-year time horizon was used. Local input parameters were obtained from published sources and expert consultation whenever possible. The model was adapted to estimate the health benefits and economic impact of each vaccine on invasive pneumococcal disease, pneumonia, and acute otitis media (AOM). An annual discount rate of 3% was used for benefits and costs (2016 euros).

RESULTS

Under base-case assumptions, vaccinating 1 birth cohort of 1 325 783 infants with PHiD-CV instead of PCV13 was predicted to have the same impact on meningitis and pneumonia, a similar impact on bacteremia (+30 cases), but greater reductions in AOM-related general practitioner visits (-34 955) and hospitalizations (-624). Assuming equal vaccine prices, PHiD-CV was predicted to be dominant over PCV13 (176 additional quality-adjusted life-years while saving €635 330 [discounted]). One-way sensitivity analysis indicated that varying the vaccine price differential had the largest effect on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, and then AOM parameters. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis predicted PHiD-CV to be dominant over PCV13 in 92.4% of simulations.

CONCLUSIONS

Any difference in price between PHiD-CV and PCV13 is expected to be the key driver of vaccine choice for preventing childhood pneumococcal disease in Turkey. At price parity, PHiD-CV use is likely to be a dominant strategy over the use of PCV13.

Cost-Effectiveness of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (10- or 13-Valent) Versus No Vaccination for a National Immunization Program in Tunisia or Algeria

INTRODUCTION

To evaluate the expected impact of the Algeria national immunization program (NIP) and potential impact for a Tunisia NIP, this study assessed the public health and economic value of vaccination, through a cost-effectiveness analysis, for a PCV13 or PCV10 NIP, compared with no vaccination.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model was programmed in Microsoft Excel™ and adapted to evaluate the clinical and economic outcomes of PCV vaccination. Assuming a steady state, the model estimated invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD; bacteremia and meningitis), all-cause pneumonia (inpatient and outpatient), and all-cause otitis media cases as well as the associated costs from a payer perspective. The base case scenario assumed direct effects for both PCVs and indirect effects (against IPD) for PCV13 only.

RESULTS

In Algeria, compared with no vaccination program, PCV13 would save 2177 lives and avoid nearly 349,000 cases of IPD, pneumonia, and AOM at a highly cost-effective value of $308 per QALY. In Tunisia, PCV13 would save 308 lives and avoid 1305 cases of IPD, 4833 cases of pneumonia, and 54,957 cases of AOM at a highly cost-effective value of $848 per QALY. PCV10 prevented 1224 deaths and 270,483 cases of disease in Algeria and prevented 172 deaths and 56,610 cases in Tunisia. PCV10 was cost-effective in both Algeria at $731/QALY and in Tunisia at $1366/QALY.

CONCLUSION

The ongoing NIP in Algeria is projected to reduce the impact and economic toll of pneumococcal disease in Algeria. If an NIP were also introduced in Tunisia, a commensurate impact would be expected. PCV NIPs are highly cost-effective, highly impactful public health interventions.

FUNDING

Pfizer.

Clinical and Economic Impact of a Potential Switch from 13-Valent to 10-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Infant Vaccination in Canada

INTRODUCTION

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been available in Canada since 2001, with 13-valent PCV (PCV13) added to the infant routine immunization program throughout all Canadian provinces by 2011. The use of PCVs has dramatically reduced the burden of pneumococcal disease in Canada. As a result, decision-makers may consider switching from a more costly, higher-valent vaccine to a lower-cost, lower-valent vaccine in an attempt to allocate funds for other vaccine programs. We assessed the health and economic impact of switching the infant vaccination program from PCV13 to 10-valent PCV (PCV10) in the context of the Canadian health care system.

METHODS

We performed a review of Canadian databases supplemented with published and unpublished data to obtain the historical incidence of pneumococcal disease and direct and indirect medical costs. Observed invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) trends from surveillance data were used as a basis to forecast the future number of cases of IPD, pneumococcal pneumonia, and acute otitis media given a PCV13- or PCV10-based program. Costs and outcomes over 10 years were then estimated and presented in 2017 Canadian dollars discounted at 3% per year.

RESULTS

Switching from PCV13 to PCV10 would result in an additional 762,531 cases of pneumococcal disease over 10 years. Although PCV13 has a higher acquisition cost, switching to PCV10 would increase overall costs by over $500 million. Forecasted overall disease incidence was estimated substantially higher with PCV10 than with PCV13 primarily because of the potential reemergence of serotypes 3 and 19A. PCV13 was also cost saving compared with PCV10, even within a 5-year time horizon. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that a PCV13-based program remained cost saving in all simulations.

CONCLUSION

Although switching to a PCV10-based infant vaccination program in Canada might result in lower acquisition costs, it would also result in higher public health cost and burden because of serotype reemergence.

FUNDING

Pfizer Inc.

How cost effective is switching universal vaccination from PCV10 to PCV13? A case study from a developing country

BACKGROUND

Children immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) had profound public health effects across the globe. Colombian adopted PCV10 universal vaccination, but PCV incremental impact need to be revalued. The objective of this analysis was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of switch to PCV13 versus continue PCV10 in Colombian children.

METHODS

A complete economic analysis was carried-out assessing potential epidemiological and economic impact of switching from PCV10 to PCV13. Epidemiological information on PCV10 impact was obtained from lab-based epidemiological surveillance on pneumococcal isolates at the Colombian National Institute of Health. Economic inputs were extracted from the literature. Incremental PCV13 effectiveness was based in additional serotypes included. Comparisons among alternatives were evaluated with the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) at a willingness to pay of one GDP per capita (USD$ 6631) per Year of Live Saved (YLS). All costs were reported in 2014USD. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed, and 95% confidence interval reported.

RESULTS

After four years using PCV10 for universal vaccination on children the Colombian health surveillance system showed a relative increment on non PCV10 isolates. To change from PCV10 to PCV13 would avoid 587 (CI95% -49-1008) ambulatory Rx community-acquired pneumoniae (CAP), 1622 (CI95% 591-2343) Inpatient RxCAP, 10 (CI 95% 6-11) pneumococcal meningitis, and 79 (CI95% 76-98) deaths. ICER per YLS was USD$ 2319 (CI95% Dominated - USD$ 4225) for Keep-PCV10 and USD$ 1771 (CI95% USD$ 1285-9884) for Switch-to PCV13. In spite of its cost-effectiveness Keep-PCV10 is an extended dominated alternative and Switch-to PCV13 would be preferred. Results are robust to parameters changes in the sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

A national immunization strategy based in Switch-to PCV13 was found to be good value for money and prevent additional burden of pneumococcal disease saving additional treatment costs, when compared with to Keep-PCV10 in Colombia, however additional criteria to decision making must be taken into account.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccines Administered to Children Less Than 5 Years of Age in a Low-Income District of Bogota, Colombia

BACKGROUND

The Colombian health authorities introduced the pneumococcal conjugated vaccine and the seasonal influenza vaccine into the national immunization schedule for children in 2009 and 2007, respectively. Despite this, the health authorities continue to be concerned about the high economic and disease burden among children from low-income households caused by these vaccine-preventable diseases.

OBJECTIVES

1) To evaluate the potential health outcomes of four vaccination strategies for subsidized children younger than 5 years in a low-income district in Colombia from a public, direct medical health care perspective. 2) To perform univariate, multivariate, and probabilistic sensitivity analysis to evaluate the robustness of these results.

METHODS

We built a Markov deterministic cohort model to evaluate five consecutive cohorts across four alternative situations: 1) no vaccination; 2) vaccination with the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10 vaccine); 3) vaccination with the trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) annually; and 4) combined vaccination with PCV10 vaccine and TIV.

RESULTS

The introduction of PCV10 vaccine and TIV and their combined use in particular would be highly cost-effective in comparison to no vaccination. For the combined vaccination with PCV10 vaccine and TIV, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio would be $1,280 per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted, the total incremental cost of the vaccination program would be $776,800, and it would avert four deaths and 332 DALYs for the five cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of PCV10 vaccine and TIV would be highly cost-effective from a public, direct medical health care perspective. Despite these results, we have not observed decreases in severity or hospitalizations. Our findings highlight the need for further studies of the immunization campaign indicators and socioeconomic indicators for this low-income community.

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.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a universal mass vaccination program with a PHiD-CV 2+1 schedule in Malaysia

Background

Currently, two pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are available in the private market of Malaysia—13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV). This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a universal mass vaccination program with a PHiD-CV 2+1 schedule versus no vaccination or with a PCV13 2+1 schedule in Malaysia.

Methods

A published Markov cohort model was adapted to evaluate the epidemiological and economic consequences of programs with no vaccination, a PHiD-CV 2+1 schedule or a PCV13 2+1 schedule over a 10-year time horizon. Disease cases, deaths, direct medical costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated. Locally published epidemiology and cost data were used whenever possible. Vaccine effectiveness and disutility data were based on the best available published data. All data inputs and assumptions were validated by local clinical and health economics experts. Analyses were conducted from the perspective of the Malaysian government for a birth cohort of 508,774. Costs and QALYs were discounted at 3% per annum. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results

Compared with no vaccination, a PHiD-CV 2+1 program was projected to prevent 1109 invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), 24,679 pneumonia and 72,940 acute otitis media (AOM) cases and 103 IPD/pneumonia deaths over 10 years, with additional costs and QALYs of United States dollars (USD) 30.9 million and 1084 QALYs, respectively, at an ICER of USD 28,497/QALY. Compared with a PCV13 2+1 program, PHiD-CV 2+1 was projected to result in similar reductions in IPD cases (40 cases more) but significantly fewer AOM cases (30,001 cases less), with cost savings and additional QALYs gained of USD 5.2 million and 116 QALYs, respectively, demonstrating dominance over PCV13. Results were robust to variations in one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

A PHiD-CV 2+1 universal mass vaccination program could substantially reduce pneumococcal disease burden versus no vaccination, and was expected to be cost-effective in Malaysia. A PHiD-CV 2+1 program was also expected to be a dominant choice over a PCV13 2+1 program in Malaysia.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12962-017-0079-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

From individual to herd protection with pneumococcal vaccines: the contribution of the Cuban pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation strategy

A new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is currently undergoing advanced clinical evaluation prior to its planned introduction in Cuba. The implementation of the pneumococcal vaccination strategy has been designed with consideration of the need to maximize both its direct and indirect effects. A novel approach is suggested, which addresses preschool children as the first-line target group to generate herd immunity in infants and to have an impact on transmission at the community level. The clinical evaluation pipeline is described herein, including evaluations of effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and impact. The scientific contribution of the Cuban strategy could support a paradigm shift from individual protection to a population effect based on a rigorous body of scientific evidence.

Modeling the cost-effectiveness of infant vaccination with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Germany

BACKGROUND

In 2009, the European Medicines Agency granted approval for two higher-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal infant (<2 years old) vaccination with a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in comparison with a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) for the prevention of pneumococcal disease in Germany.

METHODS

A population-based Markov model was developed to estimate the impact of PCV13 and PCV10 on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), non-invasive pneumonia (PNE), and acute otitis media (AOM) over a time horizon of 50 years. The model included the effects of the historical vaccination scheme in infants as well as indirect herd effects and replacement disease. We used German epidemiological data to calculate episodes of IPD, PNE, and AOM, as well as direct and indirect effects of the vaccination. Parameter uncertainty was tested in univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

In the base-case analysis, the ICER of PCV13 versus PCV10 infant vaccination was EUR 9826 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained or EUR 5490 per life-year (LY) gained from the societal perspective and EUR 3368 per QALY gained or EUR 1882 per LY gained from the perspective of the German statutory health insurance. The results were particularly sensitive to the magnitude of indirect effects of both vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS

Universal infant vaccination with PCV13 is likely to be a cost-effective intervention compared with PCV10 within the German health care system, if additional net indirect effects of PCV13 vaccination are significant.

Cost Effectiveness of Pneumococcal Vaccination in Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Although pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have been available for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) for over a decade, their adoption into national immunization programmes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is still limited. Economic evaluations (EEs) play a crucial role in support of evidence-informed decisions.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to provide a critical summary of EEs of PCVs and identify key drivers of EE findings in LMICs.

METHODS

We searched Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central from their inception to 30 September 2015 and limited the search to LMICs. The search was undertaken using the search strings 'pneumococc* AND conjugat* AND (vaccin* OR immun*)' AND 'economic OR cost-effectiveness OR cost-benefit OR cost-utility OR cost-effectiveness OR cost-benefit OR cost-utility' in the abstract, title or keyword fields. To be included, each study had to be a full EE of a PCV and conducted for an LMIC. Studies were extracted and reviewed by two authors. The review involved standard extraction of the study overview or the characteristics of the study, key drivers or parameters of the EE, assumptions behind the analyses and major areas of uncertainty.

RESULTS

Out of 134 records identified, 22 articles were included. Seven studies used a Markov model for analysis, while 15 studies used a decision-tree analytic model. Eighteen studies performed a cost-utility analysis (CUA), with disability-adjusted life-years, quality-adjusted life-years or life-years gained as a measure of health outcome, while four studies focused only on cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). Both CEA and CUA findings were provided by eight studies. Herd effects and serotype replacement were considered in 10 and 13 studies, respectively. The current evidence shows that both the 10-valent and 13-valent PCVs are probably cost effective in comparison with the 7-valent PCV or no vaccination. The most influential parameters were vaccine efficacy and coverage (in 16 of 22 studies), vaccine price (in 13 of 22 studies), disease incidence (in 11 of 22 studies), mortality from IPD and pneumonia (in 8 of 22 studies) and herd effects (in 4 of 22 studies). The findings were found to be supportive of the products owned by the manufacturers.

CONCLUSION

Our review demonstrated that an infant PCV programme was a cost-effective intervention in most LMICs (in 20 of 22 studies included). The results were sensitive to vaccine efficacy, price, burden of disease and sponsorship. Decision makers should consider EE findings and affordability before adoption of PCVs.

Current therapeutics and prophylactic approaches to treat pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a frequent cause of mortality worldwide. The increased incidence of pneumococcal diseases in both developed and developing countries is alarmingly high, affecting infants and aged adult populations. The growing rate of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation on medical device surfaces poses a greater challenge for treating respiratory infections. Over recent years, a better understanding of bacterial growth, metabolism, and virulence has offered several potential targets for developing therapeutics against bacterial pneumonia. This chapter will discuss the current and developing trends in treating bacterial pneumonia.