Cost-effectiveness of quadrivalent vaccine against human papilloma virus in Argentina based on a dynamic transmission model

• Main Authors: Andrés Pichon-Riviere, Andrea Alcaraz, Joaquín Caporale, Ariel Bardach, Lucila Rey-Ares, Karen Klein, María Calderón, Federico Augustovski, Silvio Tatti Tatti
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública 2015-11-01
• Series: Salud Pública de México
• Subjects: programas de inmunización; infecciones por papilomavirus; evaluación de costo-efectividad
• Online Access: http://www.saludpublica.mx/index.php/spm/article/view/7639

Objective. To assess the cost-effectiveness of the qua- drivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) in Argentina from the health system perspective. Materials and methods. A dynamic transmission model was used to estimate the impact of the vaccine on the incidence of cervical cancer, warts, and other HPV related diseases; in quality adjusted life years (QALYs); and in healthcare costs. Results. Vaccination could reduce the risk of cervical cancer by 60% and by 67% the risk of genital warts. Compared to a non-vaccine scenario, the immunization strategy showed an incremental benefit of 0.00234 QALY per person at an incremental cost of US$2.36, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$1007.55 per QALY gained. Sensitivity analysis proved the robustness of these results. Conclusions. Immunization with the quadrivalent vaccine was a cost-effective intervention in Argentina, and it was far below the threshold of one gross domestic product per capita (US$15 009) per QALY gained.