PCV Optimise
Project Details
What can PCV-OPTIMISE assess?
PCV-OPTIMISE compares alternative optimisation strategies with continuation of the current PCV program, including:
· switching between PCV products;
· moving from a three-dose schedule to a 1p+1 schedule, where appropriate;
· changing vial presentations;
· using different vial presentations across service-delivery settings; and
· combining schedule, product and presentation changes.
What does the tool estimate?
For each strategy, PCV-OPTIMISE estimates and compares:
· vaccine and injection-supply procurement requirements;
· total program costs;
· potential program savings;
· country financing implications;
· vaccine requirements and wastage; and
· cold-chain requirements.
Users can compare multiple strategies and explore how results change when key assumptions are varied.
Country-specific analysis
PCV-OPTIMISE includes default country and program inputs from publicly available data sources where available. Users can review and replace these inputs with the latest local data.
Country-specific inputs include population and vaccine coverage, vaccine product and presentation, vaccine prices, wastage, delivery costs, financing arrangements and other programme assumptions.
Use of validated local programme data is recommended wherever available.
Important considerations
PCV-OPTIMISE is a decision-support tool. It does not determine whether a particular PCV schedule, product or presentation is epidemiologically or programmatically appropriate.
Results should be interpreted alongside current WHO recommendations, local epidemiological evidence, program considerations and country decision-making processes.
Estimates of potential savings represent changes in program resource requirements under the assumptions used and should not automatically be interpreted as cash available for reallocation.
Download and use
PCV-OPTIMISE can be downloaded and run locally in Microsoft Excel. Users can save and update their country-specific analyses.
Researchers
PCV-OPTIMISE was developed by Fulgence Niyibitegeka, with substantial contributions from Professor Fiona Russell (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne). Associate Professor Natalie Carvalho and Dr Tori Oliver provided review and feedback during the development of the tool.
Funding
Development of PCV-OPTIMISE was supported by the Gates Foundation and the Robert Austrian Research Award (ISPPD2026).