Return On Investment From Immunization Against 10 Pathogens In 94 Low- And Middle-Income Countries, 2011–30

Abstract

Estimating the value of global investment in immunization programs is critical to helping decision makers plan and mobilize immunization programs and allocate resources required to realize their full benefits. We estimated economic benefits using cost-of-illness and value-of-a-statistical-life approaches and combined this estimation with immunization program costs to derive the return on investment from immunization programs against ten pathogens for ninety-four low-and middle-income countries for the period 2011-30. Using the cost-of-illness approach, return on investment for one dollar invested in immunization against our ten pathogens was 26.1 for the ninety-four countries from 2011 to 2020 and 19.8 from 2021 to 2030. Using the value-of-a-statisticallife approach, return on investment was 51.0 from 2011 to 2020 and 52.2 from 2021 to 2030. The results demonstrate continued high return on investment from immunization programs. The return-on-investment estimates from this study will inform country policy makers and decision makers in funding agencies and will contribute to efforts to mobilize resources for immunization. Realization of the full benefits of immunization will depend on sustained investment in and commitment to immunization programs.

Community-funded integrated care outreach clinics as a capacity building strategy to expand access to health care in remote areas of Uganda

“…The full-immunization rate for children aged 12 to 23 months is as low as 50% in rural areas compared with 61% in urban areas [ 28 ]. The consequences of under-immunization of children in Uganda, as for other countries, include not only higher morbidity and mortality but also lost economic opportunity: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has demonstrated that vaccination is integral to achieving 14 of the 17 SDGs, and the return on investment of immunization in Gavi-supported countries, when considering costs averted plus broader societal value, is $54 per every $1 spent [ 29 , 30 ].…”

The World of Immunization: Achievements, Challenges, and Strategic Vision for the Next Decade

“…The total annual global deaths averted by vaccination go far beyond these estimates as only 98 countries were modeled, and deaths averted from polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and from adult vaccinations were not modelled [ 10 ]. In a related modeling study it was estimated that from 2011 to 2030, immunization would avert $1510.4 billion (2018 USD; 95% CL $674.3–$2643.2) in costs of illness in 94 LMIC compared with no vaccination, and generate $3436.7 billion (95% CL $1615.8–$5657.2) in benefits [ 11 ], representing a return of $26.1 for every dollar invested using the cost-of-illness approach [ 4 ].…”

Immunization programs are investments, not spends

“…The study by Sim et al. [1] is timely and strategic for current and future global public health planning. It justifies the decisions already made by several policy makers in different countries worldwide to invest in immunization programs against different diseases, which can also help to bring equity and diminish inequalities in a Global scale [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…For instance, the ROI can vary among the countries, according to diseases and periods of time. The ROI estimates from the study by Sim and colleagues [1] will inform and help country policy in funding the efforts to these programs and initiatives. However, the full benefits of an immunization programs will not only depend on sustained commitment and investment in these programs, but also on a better understanding of the immunization programs by the public that will support these decisions and actions.…”

“…In the study by Sim and colleagues 1 using the COI approach, the ROI for 1 US$ dollar invested in immunization programs against the 10 pathogens was US$ 26.10 for the 94 countries from 2011 to 2020 and US$ 19.80 from 2021 to 2030. Using the VSL approach, ROI was US$ 51.00 from 2011 to 2020 and US$ 52.20 from 2021 to 2030 [1] . This analysis shows that immunization programs are positive investments.…”