title: Overcoming perceptions of financial barriers to rotavirus vaccine introduction in Asia.
abstract: Despite a WHO recommendation in 2009, reaffirmed in 2013, that all countries should consider introducing rotavirus vaccines into their National Immunization Programs, as of June 2013 only 45 have done so. One major consideration appears to have been the costs of the vaccine to countries. Of concern, is that Asian countries have been slow to introduce rotavirus vaccines despite having robust data that could inform the decision-making process. Although decisions on new vaccine introduction are very complex and vary by country and region, economic evaluations are often pivotal once vaccine efficacy and safety has been established, and disease burden documented and communicated. Unfortunately, with private sector list prices of vaccines often used in economic evaluations, rather than a potential public health sector pricing structure, policy-makers may defer decisions on rotavirus vaccine introduction based on the belief that "the vaccine price is too high," even though this might be based on erroneous data. The Pan American Health Organization's Revolving Fund provides one example of how vaccine price can be made more competitive and transparent through a regional tendering process. Other mechanisms, such as tiered pricing and UNICEF procurement, also exist that could help Asian and other countries move forward more quickly with rotavirus vaccine introduction.
authors: Department of Paediatrics; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong, P.R. China.
authors: E Anthony S
authors: EA
authors: Nelson
authors: Ciro A
authors: CA
authors: de Quadros
authors: Mathuram
authors: M
authors: Santosham
authors: Umesh D
authors: UD
authors: Parashar
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: Steele
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002202:Capital Financing / Q000458:organization & administration; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines
keywords: National Immunization Technical Advisory Group; advisory committee; evidence-based decision making; immunization financing; immunization policy; policy recommendations; rotavirus vaccine
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