Economic implications of human papillomavirus vaccination in Malta

Abstract

A poster presentation regarding the economic implications of human papillomavirus vaccination in Malta. Introduction: The Maltese Government launched the HPV vaccination scheme in 2013 and the National Healthcare System (NHS) has since provided the Cervarix® vaccine free of charge to girls aged 12. This study was based on the scheme provided by the NHS in Malta. It is vital to assess the economic benefit of having women and/or men vaccinated, therefore, reducing the risk of cervical cancer or diseases among a population. In 2013, girls born in both 2000 and 2001 were vaccinated. While in 2014 and 2015, girls born in 2002 and 2003, respectively, were vaccinated. From 2013 to 2015, girls were vaccinated using a three dose scheme. As from 2016, girls are now being vaccinated using a two dose scheme which was found to be immunogenic. Aims: • To assess the cost implications of the vaccine within the health care

system according to the vaccine scheme for vaccinating 12 year old girls. • To assess the cost implications of including boys in the vaccination scheme.

Background and objective: The Maltese Government launched the HPV vaccination scheme in 2013 and the National Healthcare System (NHS) has since provided the Cervarix vaccine free of charge to girls aged 12. The aim of this study was to assess the cost of the administration of HPV vaccines in the healthcare system of Malta. This study was based on the scheme provided by the NHS. Setting and method: The study was carried out at the University of Malta. The relevant information was obtained from the National Statistics Office, the Primary Health Care Department and the Central Supplies and Procurement Unit. The local scheme for vaccinating 12 year old girls was assessed for the years 2013–2015. Costs for 2016 were analysed separately. Primarily, estimated costs were generated in terms of the wholesale cost of the vaccine, the number of girls born per year and the number of doses administered per year. In order to generate more accurate results, this method was repeated in terms of the tender price (as of 2015), the number of girls who attended the full three dose scheme and the number of doses administered per year. Cost estimation of including boys in the vaccination scheme per year was also performed.