Expanding Immunization Project by Bringing Attenuated Hepatitis A Vaccine into Guangdong Province

doi:10.7664/CHE20130718

Abstract： Objective:To evaluate the economic benefit of the expanding immunization project by bringing the attenuated hepatitis A vaccine into Guangdong Province. Methods:Use weighted average method to ensure the discount rate, and use net present value method to calculate net benefit ( NB) and benefit-cost ratio ( BCR) , then the impact of parameter change on NB and BCR was applied by sensitivity analysis method for each alternative quantitative assessment. Results: In 2010, an investment of RMB 4 155 560 000 on bringing attenuated hepatitis A vaccine into the expanded program on immunization of Guangdong Province, it could reduce 72 417 cases of hepatitis A, which means RMB 573.84 per input can reduce 1 case of hepatitis A. During the protecting period of vaccine, the social discount rate was 3.38%, and the net economic benefit was about RMB 292 million produced by the program and the BCR was 8.02:1. The result of sensitivity analysis shows NB change between RMB 94 million and 1.462 billion and BCR changes between RMB 327 milion and 3.618 billion while all parameter varies between the maximum and the minimum. Conclusion: Bringing attenuated hepatitis A vaccine into Guangdong Province has brought healthy economic benefits and a higher investment return which achieves the effective allocation of government resources.