Pneumococcal Diseases Caused by Serotype Replacement in Colombia: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in Infants and Its Herd Protection in Older Adults

Abstract

Background. The recent and available evidence on the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes, which affects the effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), suggest that additional health economic studies will be important for better understanding of potential economic benefits of pneumococcal vaccination. Methods A cohort simulation model was used for new births in Colombia between 2019-2022 and adults over 65 years, from social perspective (direct and indirect costs). The time horizon was a life expectancy and discount rate for costs and benefits of 5%. The outcomes were presented in terms of avoided pneumococcal diseases ─ Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD), Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Acute Otitis Media (AOM), and sequelae─, years of life gained (AVG) and herd effect in older adults.Results. Based on data from National Data of the serotype distribution between 2017-2019, PCV10 covers 5% of serotypes while PCV13 63%. The additional cases that PCV13 would prevent are in children: 1,205 cases of IPD, 60,274 of CAP, 26,619 of AOM, 3,980 deaths, 28 cases of neuromotor disability and 1,251 cochlear implants. In older adults, PCV13 would prevent 818 additional cases of IPD and 29,983 of CAP, generating 149,186 additional LYGs to those of PCV10 with a saving to the health system and patients of US $ 169,261 thousand. The model shows robustness in the sensibility analysis.Conclusion. PCV13 is a cost-saving strategy versus PCV10 to prevent pneumococcal diseases.