title: Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccine in The Gambia.
abstract: Hepatitis B vaccine has been progressively introduced into the Gambian programme of immunization since 1986. Other African countries are considering introduction but require evidence of cost-effectiveness to justify such a decision. The cost of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in The Gambia, which includes hepatitis B vaccine, was calculated for 1988. Estimates of the effects of this programme on the incidence of liver cancer were made, based on the national cancer registry and a case control study of primary liver cancer and hepatitis B, regarding hepatitis B vaccine costs as incremental. This gave an estimate of the cost of averting a death from liver cancer in the range US$150-200 (assuming a vaccine cost of US$1 per dose). This indicates that universal hepatitis B immunization is comparable, in terms of cost-effectiveness, to other health interventions in less developed countries.
authors.affiliation: International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO), Banjul, The Gambia.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Roberston
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Crivelli
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inskip
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whittle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000191:economics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines