Economic Evaluation Of An Eventual Incorporation Of Anti-Rotavirus Vaccine Into Childhood Immunization Program In Honduras

We present an economic evaluation of rotavirus vaccine in less than five year-old Honduran population. An economic model was applied with the purpose to compare the implementation of an anti-rotavirus immunization program with the strategy of no vaccination and treatment of the disease according with the local standard clinical practice. METHODS. The cost-effectivity was evaluated in terms of cost due to disability-adjusted life years (DALY), comparing the net cost of the immunization program with its effectivity, from the stand point of view of the health service. The net cost of the immunization program was estimated subtracting the costs of vaccination to the reduction of direct medical costs due to rotavirus gastroenteritis. The costs and benefits of the immunization program were updated to year 2003 using a discount rate of 3%. A sensitivity univariant analysis was done to measure the degree of variability in the results with relation to the defining parameters. RESULTS. In Honduras, approximately $1,8 million dollars are spent in hos-pital and ambulatory care of rotavirus gastroenteritis, in transportation and indirect costs. The rotavirus immunization program would prevent 68% of these costs. From the stand point of view of the health service, where the estimated cost per regimen is $24, it would generate an additional cost by each disability-adjusted life year of $269. The sensitivity analysis shows how this value is sensitive to vaccine price modification, to rotavirus mortality and to the efficacy of the vaccine to prevent death due to rotavirus, being less sensitive to direct medical costs and to rotavirus incidence. CONCLUSIONS. The results of this study show that the anti-rotavirus vaccination could be a preventing intervention of severe gastroenteritis in the less than five-year old Honduran population