title: Prioritization of the introduction of new vaccines to the national immunization program in the Republic of Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was performed to determine the priority of vaccine introduction for five vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcus (Spn), hepatitis A virus (HepA), rotavirus (RV), and human papillomavirus (HPV) to the future Korean National Immunization Program (NIP) and to suggest framework programs to assist decision makers on implementation of the NIP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following analysis of the disease burden and economics of the five VPDs by the core team and Korean Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices sub-committee members, a Delphi survey was administered to 94 Korean experts using structured questionnaires that provided the reference data. The two evaluation frameworks for NIP prioritization were (1) a disease-related framework and (2) a vaccine-related framework. After analyzing the responses, a meeting of experts was held to build a consensus for determining how to prioritize NIP implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average scores for relative importance were 63.29 for the disease-related framework and 36.71 for the vaccine-related framework. Within the disease-related framework, the mortality and case fatality rate was the highest scored factor (8.97), whereas within the vaccine-related framework, efficacy of the vaccine was considered the most important factor (9.56). On average, Spn, Hib, and HepA had the highest priority scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Korean experts suggested that the main factors influencing the decision to adopt new vaccines in the Korean NIP should be disease mortality, case fatality, and the efficacy and effectiveness of the vaccine. Among the five selected VPDs, Spn, Hib, and HepA were considered to be of higher priority than RV and HPV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Division of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Program, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young June
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Division of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Program, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ok Pil
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Program, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heeyeon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Vaccine-Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Program, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Geun-Ryang
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hyo
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hoan Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: eunchoi@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Eun Hwa
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D003657:Decision Making; D003697:Delphi Technique; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006292:Health Priorities; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D056910:Republic of Korea; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines
keywords: Delphi survey; National Immunization Program; Priority