China’s recent approval of two herpes zoster vaccines has sparked a significant discussion among healthcare policymakers. A new study evaluates the economic viability of these vaccines, focusing on their implementation within a cohort of individuals aged 50.
Comparative Analysis of Vaccination Strategies
Utilizing a lifetime Markov model from a societal perspective, researchers assessed the cost-effectiveness of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) versus the live-attenuated zoster vaccine (LZV). The study incorporated the latest published data and statistical information to calculate costs related to vaccination, medical treatments, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and the number of herpes zoster (HZ) cases and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) cases prevented. Sensitivity analyses ensured the reliability of the results.
Economic Implications and Health Outcomes
Findings indicate that the RZV strategy significantly outperforms the LZV approach. Specifically, RZV is projected to prevent 4,126 HZ cases and 772 PHN cases, whereas LZV is expected to avert 2,355 HZ cases and 467 PHN instances. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) stands at 711.46 USD per QALY for RZV and 914.62 USD per QALY for LZV, highlighting RZV’s superior economic advantage.
- RZV offers nearly double the prevention of HZ and PHN cases compared to LZV.
- The lower ICER of RZV suggests greater economic efficiency in the long term.
- Implementing RZV could lead to substantial healthcare cost savings and improved patient outcomes.
The study underscores the substantial health benefits provided by HZ vaccination strategies at a reasonable cost. Particularly, the recombinant zoster vaccine emerges as a more cost-effective option compared to its live-attenuated counterpart.
Adopting the recombinant zoster vaccine could enhance public health outcomes by reducing the incidence of HZ and its debilitating complications. Policymakers should consider these findings to optimize vaccination programs, ensuring both economic and health benefits are maximized for the aging population in China.
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