Projected immunizations estimated to yield return about 16 times greater than costs over decade
MONDAY, Feb. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Projected immunizations are estimated to yield returns that are greater than costs in low- and middle-income countries during 2011 to 2020, according to a study published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
Sachiko Ozawa, Ph.D., from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, and colleagues examined the return on investment associated with achieving projected coverage levels for vaccinations to prevent diseases related to 10 antigens in 94 low and middle-income countries during 2011 to 2020 (the Decade of Vaccines). The estimates were derived based on the costs of vaccines, supply chains, and service delivery, and their related economic benefit.
The researchers estimated that over the decade, projected immunizations would yield a net return about 16 times greater than costs, based on the costs of illness averted. Net returns amounted to 44 times the costs using a full-income approach, which quantified the value that people place on living longer and healthier lives. Net returns were greater than costs across all antigens.
“Our findings present the societal return on investment associated with vaccination efforts, both current and projected, during the Decade of Vaccines,” the authors write. “To realize the projected returns during this decade will take adequate resource mobilization and sustained vaccine delivery, which in turn require commitments from governments and donors to provide universal access to immunization programs.”
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