Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccine in The Gambia.
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.
Hall
A J
AJ
International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO), Banjul, The Gambia.
Roberston
R L
RL
Crivelli
P E
PE
Lowe
Y
Y
Inskip
H
H
Snow
S K
SK
Whittle
H
H
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
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines