HPV vaccines (human papillomavirus) recommended for all adolescents by the World Health Organization (WHO), are primarily delivered in school-based settings. There is a need to understand the cost of HPV vaccines delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in light of recent global efforts to revitalize HPV vaccine delivery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
A systematic review of published literature was conducted, focusing on studies that reported the costs of HPV vaccine delivery in LMICs published between 2005 and 2023. The review used the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) framework to develop eligibility criteria and included studies that reported primary costing data and unit costs of HPV vaccine delivery. Data such as the phase of HPV vaccine implementation when costing was done, delivery strategy, and unit costs were extracted from the included studies.
Variability in HPV Vaccines Delivery Costs: Insights from African Countries and Beyond
The review identified 226 records, of which 15 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies (64%) were carried out in African countries and during HPV vaccine pilots or demonstrations (60%). The reported vaccine delivery cost ranged from $0.31 to $24.07 per dose for financial costs and $1.48 to $48.70 per dose for economic costs.
Notably, the systematic review found that most studies did not describe the uncertainty of the reported delivery cost. The evidence from the review suggests that HPV vaccine delivery costs vary widely depending on the country and the stage of implementation when costing was done.
Further research areas include costing when programs are beyond the introduction phase and in LMICs outside of Africa. These findings can be used to inform planning for program sustainability.
Original Article DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.01.094
Original title: Costs of human papillomavirus vaccine delivery in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
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