Herd Immunity Effects in Cost-Effectiveness Analyses among Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Herd immunity (HI) is a key benefit of vaccination programs, but the effects are not routinely included in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs).

Objective

This study investigated how the inclusion of HI in CEAs may influence the reported value of immunizations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and illustrated the implications for COVID-19 immunization.

Methods

We reviewed immunization CEAs published from 2000 to 2018 focusing on LMICs using data from the Tufts Medical Center CEA Registries. We investigated the proportion of studies that included HI, the methods used, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) reported. When possible, we evaluated how ICERs would change with and without HI.

Results

Among the 243 immunization CEAs me

SUBMITTER: Ma S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8743090 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature