Health impact and cost-effectiveness of expanding routine immunization coverage in India through Intensified Mission Indradhanush: a quasi-experimental study and economic evaluation

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Abstract

Background

Many children do not receive a full schedule of childhood vaccines, yet there is limited evidence on the cost-effectiveness of strategies for improving vaccination coverage. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of periodic intensification of routine immunization (PIRI), a widely applied strategy for increasing vaccination coverage.

Methods

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) was a large-scale PIRI intervention implemented in India in 2017–2018. In 40 sampled districts, we measured the incremental economic cost of IMI using primary data, and used a quasi-experimental impact evaluation to estimate incremental vaccination doses delivered. We estimated deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted using the Lives Saved Tool and reported cost-effectiveness from government provider and societal perspectives.

Findings

In sampled districts, IMI had an estimated incremental cost of 2021US$15.7 (95% uncertainty interval: 11.9 to 20.1) million from a provider perspective and increased vaccine delivery by an estimated 2.2 (−0.5 to 4.8) million doses, averting an estimated 1,413 (−350 to 3,129) deaths. The incremental cost was $7.14 per dose ($3.20 to dominated), $95.24 per zero-dose child reached ($45.48 to dominated), $375.98 ($168.54 to dominated) per DALY averted, $413.96 ($185.56 to dominated) per life-year saved, and $11,133 ($4,990 to dominated) per under-five death averted. At a cost-effectiveness threshold of 1x per-capita GDP per DALY averted, IMI was estimated to be cost-effective with 89% probability.

Interpretation

This evidence suggests IMI was both impactful and cost-effective for improving vaccination coverage. As vaccination programs expand coverage, unit costs may increase due to the higher costs of reaching currently unvaccinated children.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Article activity feed

  1. Donald Shepard, Shehreen Zakir

    Review 1: "Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Expanding Routine Immunization Coverage in India Through Intensified Mission Indradhanush: A Quasi-Experimental Study and Economic Evaluation"

    The reviewers found this preprint reliable on the whole but suggested several areas for clarification in the manuscript.

  2. Donald Shepard, Shehreen Zakir

    Review of "Health Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of Expanding Routine Immunization Coverage in India Through Intensified Mission Indradhanush: A Quasi-Experimental Study and Economic Evaluation"

    Reviewers: D Shepard & S Zakir (Brandeis University) | 📗📗📗📗◻️