Importance of Childhood Vaccination

Even though vaccination rates have increased globally, there is still a large gap in vaccine coverage between countries. DPT1 and DPT3 performance in European countries is 97% and 94%, respectively, whereas it is 76% and 84% in African countries.1 Similarly, measles vaccination coverage is 74% in Africa and 95% in developed countries.2  The world's highest infant and under-five mortality rates are still seen in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East Africa.3 This could be directly related to the region's low immunization rates.

The best and the most cost-effective method to lower the burden of childhood disease is shown to be vaccination.4 Childhood vaccinations are thought to save two to three million lives annually, which has made a significant difference in the infant mortality rate, which decreased from 65 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 29 in 2018.5 According to a study evaluating the effects of routine childhood vaccination in the United States, the incidence of all targeted diseases decreased as a result of routine immunization, with reductions ranging from 17% for influenza to 100% for diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, measles, mumps, polio, and rubella.6

Avoided medical costs are one of the most obvious economic benefits of vaccines. The financial burden of medical treatment, including physician visits, prescription medications, hospital stays, related travel expenses, and caregivers' lost wages, could be avoided by preventing an outbreak of the disease through vaccination.4,7  Measles, rotavirus, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccinations are predicted to prevent out-of-pocket medical costs in 41 Gavi-eligible low and middle-income countries (LMICs) from reaching $4.6 billion (2016 USD, adjusted for purchasing power parity) between 2016 and 2030.8

Under the framework of LMICs, the World Health Organization is creating a method for methodically assessing the wider advantages of vaccinations known as the Full Public Health Value Propositions (FPHVP).9 The global value of vaccines should be considered as much as possible from the initial phases of product development, according to the FPHVP approach. To prevent needless delays in the uptake of new vaccinations in LMICs, where there are the largest public health needs, defining, measuring, and finally proving the FPHVP of vaccines should strengthen political will and enable more precise resource prioritization.

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References

1. Peck MG-DM, Diallo MS, Nedelec Y, Sodha SS, Wallace AS. Global routine vaccination coverage, 2018/Couverture de la vaccination systematic dans le monde, 2018. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2019;94(43):498–505.

2. de la Santé O, Organization WH. Global routine vaccination coverage, 2018–Couverture de la vaccination systématique dans le monde, 2018. Weekly Epidemiological Record = Relevé épidémiologique hebdomadaire 2019, 94(43):498–504.

3. Yaya S, Uthman OA, Okonofua F, Bishwajit G. Decomposing the rural-urban gap in the factors of under-five mortality in sub-saharan Africa? Evidence from 35 countries. BMC Public Health. 2019;19(1):1–10.

4. Ozawa S, Mirelman A, Stack ML, Walker DG, Levine OS. Cost-effectiveness and economic benefits of vaccines in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Vaccine. 2012;31:96–108.

5. World Health Organization. World Health Organization: 10 facts on immunization; 2018. https://www.who.int/mongolia/health-topics/vaccines/10-facts-on-immunization

6. Talbird, S.E., Carrico, J., La, E.M., Carias, C., Marshall, G.S., Roberts, C.S., Chen, Y.T. and Nyaku, M.K., 2022. Impact of routine childhood immunization in reducing vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States. Pediatrics, 150(3), p.e2021056013.

7. Ozawa S, Clark S, Portnoy A, Grewal S, Stack ML, Sinha A, Mirelman A, Franklin H, Friberg IK, Tam Y. Estimated economic impact of vaccinations in 73 low- and middle-income countries, 2001–2020. Bull World Health Organ. 2017;95:629–38.

8. Riumallo-Herl C, Chang AY, Clark S, Constenla D, Clark A, Brenzel L, Verguet S. Poverty reduction and equity benefits of introducing or scaling up measles, rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines in low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study. BMJ Global Health. 2018;3:e000613.

9. WHO. Full Public Health Value Propositions for Vaccines: Executive summary. Geneva: WHO; 2018.