Top

Journal of Public Health

Published in:

Open Access 01-08-2008 | Original Article

Public health economics of vaccines in the Netherlands: methodological issues and applications

Author: Maarten J. Postma

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 4/2008

Abstract

Aim

This article seeks to highlight the methodological issues involved in the public health economics of vaccines in the Netherlands and the ensuing implications for immunisation policy.

Subjects and methods

We review and analyse the role of health economics (and especially cost-effectiveness issues) in the decision-making process of the Dutch (1) Drugs Reimbursement System and (2) National Immunisation Programme. Different types of health-economic analyses are illustrated by the examples of meningococcal C, pneumococcal, and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines.

Results

The role of health economics has recently increased in importance in Dutch public health decision-making concerning vaccines. The choice of vaccine strategy against meningococcus C, the shift in favour of introducing pneumococcal vaccine, and the prolonged decision on the reimbursement for HPV vaccine were all related to the health-economic component in the recommendation process.

Conclusion

The role of health economics is growing in decision-making regarding the reimbursement of new therapeutic and prophylactic products. Vaccines, like drugs, will have increasingly to prove their cost-effectiveness if manufacturers are to lead their product not only from phases I to IV, but also through to implementation as part of national immunisation policies covered within national reimbursement systems.

Bos JM, Rumke H, Welte R, Postma MJ (2003) Epidemiologic impact and cost-effectiveness of universal infant vaccination with a 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine in the Netherlands. Clin Ther 25:2614–2630PubMedCrossRef

Bos JM, Beutels P, Annemans L, Postma MJ (2004) Valuing prevention through economic evaluation; some considerations regarding the choice of discount model for health effects with focus on infectious diseases. Pharmacoeconomics 22:1171–1179PubMedCrossRef

Brouwer WBF, Niessen LW, Postma MJ et al (2005) Need for differential discounting of costs and health effects in cost effectiveness analysis. BMJ 331:446–448PubMedCrossRef

Drummond MF, Chevat C, Lothgren M (2007) Do we fully understand the economic value of vaccines? Vaccine 25:5945–5957PubMedCrossRef

Gravelle H, Brouwer W, Niessen L (2007) Discounting in economic evalutations: stepping forward to optimal decision rules. Health Economics 16:307–317PubMedCrossRef

Foundation for Health Care Insurance (College voor Zorgverzekeringen; CvZ) (1999) Guidelines for pharmacoeconomic research. Amstelveen

Foundation for Health Care Insurance (College voor Zorgverzekeringen; CvZ) (2004) Updated guidelines for pharmacoeconomic research. Diemen

Health Council (GezondheidsRaad; GR) (2002) Universal Vaccination against Meningococci and Pneumococci (in Dutch). The Hague

Health Council (GezondheidsRaad; GR) (2004) Vaccination against Pertussis (in Dutch). The Hague: GR

Health Council (GezondheidsRaad; GR) (2005) Vaccination of Infants against Pneumococcal Infections (in Dutch). The Hague

Health Council (GezondheidsRaad; GR) (2007) The Future of the National Immunization Program; towards a program for all ages (in Dutch). The Hague

Health Council (GezondheidsRaad; GR) (2008) Vaccination against Cervical Cancer (in Dutch). The Hague

Heeg BMS, Buskens E, Knapp M et al (2005) Modelling the treated course of schizophrenia: Development of a discrete event simulation model. Pharmacoeconomics 23(S1):17–33PubMed

Heeg BMS, Peters RJG, Botteman M, van Hout A (2007) Long-term clopidogrel therapy in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention. Pharmacoeconomics 25:769–783PubMedCrossRef

Hubben GAA, Bos JM, Glynn DM et al (2007) Enhanced decision support for policy makers using a web interface to health-economic models-Illustrated with a cost-effectiveness analysis of nation-wide vaccination with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the Netherlands. Vaccine 25:3669–3678PubMedCrossRef

Lexau CA, Lynfield R, Danila R et al (2005) Changing epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease among older adults in the era of pediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. JAMA 294:2043–2051PubMedCrossRef

Postma MJ (2003) Pharmacoeconomic research. Pharmacy, World & Science 25:245–246CrossRef

Postma MJ, Jansema P, Scheijbeler HWKFH, van Genugten MLL (2005) Scenarios on costs and savings of influenza treatment and prevention for Dutch healthy working adults. Vaccine 23:5365–5371PubMedCrossRef

Postma MJ, Nijman HW, Daemen CAHH et al (2007a) Cost-effectiveness of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 16/18 Vaccines against Cervical Cancer in the Netherlands. Vaccine Vaccine Congress 9–11 Dec 2007; Abstract Book

Postma MJ, Novak A, Scheijbeler HWKFH, Gyldmark M, van Genugten MLL, Wilschut JC (2007b) Cost effectiveness of oseltamivir treatment for patients with influenza-like illness who are at increased risk for serious complications of influenza; illustration for the Netherlands. Pharmacoeconomics 25(6):497–509PubMedCrossRef

Rutten F (2004) Health technology assessment and policy from the economic perspective. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 20:67–70PubMedCrossRef

Stolk EA, Busschbach JJV, Caffa M et al (2000) Cost utility analysis of sildenafil compared with papaverine-phentolamine injections. BMJ 320:1165–1168PubMedCrossRef

Thiry N, Lambert M-L, Cleemput I, Huybrechts M, Neyt M, Hulstaert F, De Laet Ch (2007) HPV Vaccinatie ter Preventie van Baarmoederhalskanker in België. Brussels: Federaal Kenniscentrum voor de Gezondheidszorg (KCE)

Welte R, van den Dobbelsteen G, Bos JM et al (2004) Economic evaluation of menigococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccination programmes in The Netherlands and its impact on decision making. Vaccine 23:470–479PubMedCrossRef

Welte R, Trotter CL, Edmunds WJ et al (2005) The role of economic evaluation in vaccine decision making. Pharmacoeconomics 23:855–474PubMedCrossRef

Whitney CG, Farley MM, Hadler J et al (2003) Decline in invasive pneumococcal disease after the introduction of protein-polysaccharide vaccine. N Engl J Med 348:1737–1746PubMedCrossRef

Title: Public health economics of vaccines in the Netherlands: methodological issues and applications
Author: Maarten J. Postma
Publication date: 01-08-2008
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Public Health / Issue 4/2008
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-008-0200-2

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Public health economics of vaccines in the Netherlands: methodological issues and applications

Abstract

Aim

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 4/2008

The expected impact of new vaccines and vaccination policies

Funding processes for new vaccines: the need for greater understanding of the economic issues

The contribution of vaccine manufacturers to the establishment of vaccination policies

The public perception of the value of vaccines - the case of Switzerland

The Finnish decision-making process to recommend a new vaccine: From vaccine research to vaccination policy

How do we tackle the complex field of vaccinology in the twenty-first century?