Abstract

Objectives

To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis and to identify the cost-effectiveness affordability levels for a newborn universal vaccination program against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Vietnam.

Methods

By using a Markov model, we simulated a Vietnamese birth cohort using 1,639,000 newborns in 2002 and estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for quality-adjusted life-year gained following universal newborn HBV vaccination. Two types of analyses were performed, including and excluding expenditures on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and its complications. We used Monte Carlo simulations to examine cost-effectiveness acceptability and affordability from the payer's perspective and constructed a cost-effectiveness affordability curve to assess the costs and health effects of the program.

Results

In the base-case analysis, newborn universal HBV vaccination reduced the carrier rate by 58% at a cost of US $42 per carrier averted. From the payer's perspective, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per quality-adjusted life-year gained was US $3.77, much lower than the 2002 per-capita gross domestic product of US $440. Vaccination could potentially be affordable starting at a US $2.1 million budget. At the cost-effectiveness threshold of US $3.77 per quality-adjusted life-year and an annual budget of US $5.9 million, the probability that vaccination will be both cost-effective and affordable was 21%.

Conclusions

Universal newborn HBV vaccination is highly cost-effective in Vietnam. In low-income, high-endemic countries, where funds are limited and the economic results are uncertain, our findings on the cost-effectiveness affordability options may assist decision makers in proper health investments.