Economic aspects of vaccines and immunizations

Several techniques are used to estimate whether investing in vaccines and i mmunization is worthwhile, including cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-utility analysis. At least 162 publis hed economic evaluations of vaccines have been carried out from 1969 to 199 8. They consistently show that immunization is an excellent investment - hi ghly cost-effective and usually cost-saving - for vaccines that are current ly recommended for universal use. Although prices of newer vaccines are hig her than prices of traditional vaccines, they are still highly cost-effecti ve. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and vaccine manufacturers have d eveloped approaches to make newer vaccines available to developing countrie s at reduced prices. Sustainability of immunization programs (the ability o f a country to continue its immunization program in the absence of external support) is an increasingly important goal. However, external assistance w ill be essential in the short term to ensure that all the world's people be nefit fully from the new vaccines. (C) 1999 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.