New Publication: Cost-effectiveness of three vaccines in four Pacific Island countries – economic evidence supporting immunisation policy

Our team is please to share the recent publication of our work in PLOS Medicine: Evaluation of rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate and human papillomavirus vaccination in four Pacific island countries: A cost-effectiveness modelling study

This study looked at the value for money of three life-saving vaccines specifically in Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu — settings often underrepresented in health economics literature despite unique immunization challenges linked to small populations, geographic isolation, and resource constraints.

This evaluation was part of the evidence base underpinning decisions from governments in all four countries to introduce the three vaccines in 2020, providing a case study for the power of economic evidence to support immunization policy decisions.

The analysis was led by A/Prof Natalie Carvalho, with support from Dr Tori Oliver. We were proud to work together with partners at the Ministries of Health in each country, the Asian Development Bank (who funded the study), UNICEF, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New York University, Telethon Kids and eSYS Development.