Objective: To estimate the economic impact achieved by global efforts
to accelerate the introduction of new vaccines and increase
immunization coverage in 73 low‐and middle‐income countries (LMICs)
in the two decades following the launch of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
(2001‐2020).
Methods: Based on relevant health impact models, we assessed the
economic impact of achieving forecasted
immunization
coverage
for
vaccination
against
ten
vaccine
‐
preventable
diseases:
Haemophilus
influenzae
type
b,
hepatitis
B,
human
papillomavirus,
Japanese
encephalitis,
measles,
Neisseria
meningitidis
serogroup
A,
rotavirus,
rubella,
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
,
and
yellow
fever.
We
modeled
averted
treatment
costs,
transportation
costs,
productivity
loss
of
caregivers,
and
productivity
loss
due
to
disability
and
death
compared
to
no
vaccination.
The
value
of
life
year
method
estimated
the
economic
and
social
value
of
living
longer
in
better
health
as
a
result
of
immunization.
Findings
Vaccination
is
estimated
to
avert
over
20
million
deaths
and
save
$350
billion
in
cost
of
illness
over
2001
‐
2020
in
73
countries.
More
than
half
of
these
benefits
($250
billion)
result
from
vaccination
in
the
current
decade
(2011
‐
2020).
Lifetime
productivity
gains
from
preventing
deaths
and
disability
are
projected
at
$330
billion
and
$9
billion,
respectively.
Immunization
over
the
entire
20
year
period
is
estimated
to
prevent
nearly
$5
billion
in
treatment
costs
over
the
lifetime
of
vaccinated
cohorts.
The
broader
economic
and
social
value
of
vaccination
from
2001
‐
2020
is
worth
$820
billion
in
73
LMICs.

Conclusion:
The
impact
of
immunization
goes
beyond
health,
preventing
significant
costs
and
potentially
increasing
economic
productivity
among
the
world’s
poorest
countries