vaccines-world-2017-posters-accepted-abstracts

15 / 20

alliedacademies
Virology Research Journal
Volume 1 Issue 4 Vaccines World 2017
Notes:
Page 47
November 09-10, 2017 Vienna, Austria
21st World Congress and Exhibition on
VACCINES, VACCINATION & IMMUNIZATION
Cost-benefit analysis of a projected national
HPV vaccination program in Lebanon
Salim M Adib, Sara Bahr, Rania Bzieh and Ghinwa El-Hayek
American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Background: HPV vaccination is believed to be a determining
factor in preventing cervical cancer (CC). The introduction
of HPV vaccination in the national EPI program has been
under debate in Lebanon for several years, in the absence of
compelling cost-benefit evidence. This analysis compares the
potential cost of such a decision to the cost of cervical cancer
treatment, with the aim of contributing some evidence to the
national debate.
Methods: The cost of HPV vaccination for all 11-year old girls
in a given year was calculated and compared to the yearly cost
of CC treatment. The first part of the equation was estimated
based on the current price for the cheapest available vaccine
in Lebanon (Cervarix®). The cost of cancer treatment was
estimated for 100 cases, which is the average incident case-
load registered nationally over several years, while weighing
for the proportional distribution of non-invasive cases versus
more expensive invasive ones. The analysis was conducted
under the favorable assumption that the vaccine will provide
lifelong protection against all cervical cancers, that the
incidence of CC will not increase and that treatment will be
successful for all diagnosed cancers.
Results: The cost of two recommended doses of the vaccine
with a current price of 70.8 USD per dose, administered to an
estimated population of 38,000. 11-year old girl was estimated
around 5 million USD. In comparison, the weighted cost of
treating 100 cases of CC was about 1,650,000 USD in total.
Thus, the ratio of expected cost of vaccination to that of CC
treatment in a given year was 3.3/1. To break-even, the price
of one vaccine dose would have to be dropped to about 5 USD,
which is considered highly unlikely as long as the vaccine has
not fallen in the public domain, an event expected within 10
years. A break-even point may also occur if cancer treatment
costs continue to rise. The cost was accrued annually by
15.6%, based on increases in cancer drug costs recorded
by the Ministry of Public Health. Even at year 10, the cost
difference would remain substantial.
Conclusions: Despite WHO recommendations, the current
epidemiological situation of Lebanon is not favorable to the
adoption of universal mandatory HPV vaccination. Our
analysis shows, even under the debatable assumption of life-
long protection, HPV vaccination is not cost-beneficial and
will remain so for at least 10 years to come.
Virol Res J 2017, 1:4