Xuechen Xiong, Zhaohua Huo, Valerie Chiang, Jiaxi Ye, Yuh Dong Hong, Xingnan Yi, Carmen S Ng, Philip H Li, Jianchao Quan
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Concerns about new COVID-19 vaccines played a key role in vaccine hesitancy and hampered population uptake. Hong Kong initiated a Vaccine Allergy Safety Track (VAS-Track) program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A 'Hub-and-Spoke' model of predominately non-specialists supported by the allergist hub was established to meet overwhelming demand despite limited specialists.
Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of VAS-Track as a pre- and post-vaccination assessment service for individuals potentially at high risk of COVID-19 vaccine-related allergy.
Methods: An individual-level decision-analytical model was constructed using data from VAS-Track participants supplemented by published estimates. Analyses were from a health service provider perspective over 12 months. We calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) to estimate the cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. Willingness-to-pay threshold was based on local GDP per capita (US$ 49,590). Sensitivity analyses examined robustness of findings.
Results: Cost-effectiveness varied widely across age groups. VAS-Track was cost-saving for older adults (dominant strategy for age ≥ 50) compared with standard practice across a range of sensitivity analyses. VAS-Track was not cost-effective for younger groups (age 18-49: ICER: US$ 410,914/QALY for pre-vaccination and US$ 213,786/QALY for post-vaccination assessments). Infection rate, cost of treating severe infection, and vaccination rate were most influential on cost-effectiveness estimates.
Conclusion: VAS-Track was cost-effective both as a pre- and post-vaccination assessment service for adults over 50. The 'Hub-and-Spoke' model using non-specialists with limited allergy specialist resources to provide vaccine allergy assessment services would provide high economic value compared with usual care for adults aged 50 and over.
期刊介绍:
The Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy and Immunology (APJAI) is an online open access journal with the recent impact factor (2018) 1.747
APJAI published 4 times per annum (March, June, September, December). Four issues constitute one volume.
APJAI publishes original research articles of basic science, clinical science and reviews on various aspects of allergy and immunology. This journal is an official journal of and published by the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Association, Thailand.
The scopes include mechanism, pathogenesis, host-pathogen interaction, host-environment interaction, allergic diseases, immune-mediated diseases, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention, immunotherapy, and vaccine. All papers are published in English and are refereed to international standards.