Assessing the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in a low incidence and low mortality setting: the case of Thailand at start of the pandemic
Issued Date
2023-07-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16187598
eISSN
16187601
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85135798516
Pubmed ID
35951243
Journal Title
European Journal of Health Economics
Volume
24
Issue
5
Start Page
735
End Page
748
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
European Journal of Health Economics Vol.24 No.5 (2023) , 735-748
Suggested Citation
Wang Y., Luangasanatip N., Pan–ngum W., Isaranuwatchai W., Prawjaeng J., Saralamba S., Painter C., Briones J.R., Teerawattananon Y. Assessing the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in a low incidence and low mortality setting: the case of Thailand at start of the pandemic. European Journal of Health Economics Vol.24 No.5 (2023) , 735-748. 748. doi:10.1007/s10198-022-01505-2 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/82853
Title
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in a low incidence and low mortality setting: the case of Thailand at start of the pandemic
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, preferred COVID-19 vaccine profiles, and the preferred vaccination strategies in Thailand. Methods: An age-structured transmission dynamic model was developed based on key local data to evaluate economic consequences, including cost and health outcome in terms of life-years (LYs) saved. We considered COVID-19 vaccines with different profiles and different vaccination strategies such as vaccinating elderly age groups (over 65s) or high-incidence groups, i.e. adults between 20 and 39 years old who have contributed to more than 60% of total COVID-19 cases in the country thus far. Analyses employed a societal perspective in a 1-year time horizon using a cost-effectiveness threshold of 160,000 THB per LY saved. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to identify and characterize uncertainty in the model. Results: COVID-19 vaccines that block infection combined with social distancing were cost-saving regardless of the target population compared to social distancing alone (with no vaccination). For vaccines that block infection, the preferred (cost-effective) strategy was to vaccinate the high incidence group. Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccines that reduces severity (including hospitalization and mortality) were cost-effective when the elderly were vaccinated, while vaccinating the high-incidence group was not cost-effective with this vaccine type. Regardless of vaccine type, higher vaccination coverage, higher efficacy, and longer protection duration were always preferred. More so, vaccination with social distancing measures was always preferred to strategies without social distancing. Quarantine-related costs were a major cost component affecting the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccines are good value for money even in a relatively low-incidence and low-mortality setting such as Thailand, if the appropriate groups are vaccinated. The preferred vaccination strategies depend on the type of vaccine efficacy. Social distancing measures should accompany a vaccination strategy.
