Preprint Article Version 2 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccination in Catalonia

Version 1 : Received: 22 November 2021 / Approved: 23 November 2021 / Online: 23 November 2021 (15:35:06 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 24 November 2021 / Approved: 25 November 2021 / Online: 25 November 2021 (15:21:36 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

López, F.; Català, M.; Prats, C.; Estrada, O.; Oliva, I.; Prat, N.; Isnard, M.; Vallès, R.; Vilar, M.; Clotet, B.; Argimon, J.M.; Aran, A.; Ara, J. A Cost–Benefit Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccination in Catalonia. Vaccines 2022, 10, 59. López, F.; Català, M.; Prats, C.; Estrada, O.; Oliva, I.; Prat, N.; Isnard, M.; Vallès, R.; Vilar, M.; Clotet, B.; Argimon, J.M.; Aran, A.; Ara, J. A Cost–Benefit Analysis of COVID-19 Vaccination in Catalonia. Vaccines 2022, 10, 59.

Abstract

(1) Background: in epidemiological terms, it has been possible to calculate the savings in health resources and the reduction in health effects of COVID vaccines. From the point of view of economic evaluation, some studies have estimated its cost-effectiveness with the vaccination showing highly favorable results, which in some cases is cost-saving; (2) Methods: a cost-benefit analysis of the vaccination campaign in the North Metropolitan Health Region (Catalonia). An epidemiological model based on observational data and before and after comparison is used. The information on the doses used and the resources assigned (conventional hospital beds, ICU, number of tests) has been extracted from administrative data from the largest Primary Care provider in the region (Catalan Institute of Health). A distinction is made between the social perspective and the health system; (3) Results: the costs of vaccination are estimated at 137 million euros (€48.05/dose administered). This figure is significantly lower than the positive impacts of the vaccination campaign, which are estimated at 470 million euros (€164/dose administered). Of these, 18% corresponds to the reduction of ICU discharges, 16% to the reduction in conventional hospital discharges, 5% to the reduction in PCR tests and 1% to the reduction of RAT tests. Monetization of deaths and cases with sequelae avoided account for 53% and 5% of total savings, respectively. The benefit/cost ratio is estimated at 3.4 from a social perspective and 1.41 from a health system perspective. The social benefits of vaccination are estimated at €116.67 per dose of vaccine given (€19.93 from the point of view of the health system); (4) Conclusions: the mass vaccination campaign against COVID is cost-saving. From a social perspective, most of these savings come from the monetization of the reduction in mortality and cases with sequelae, although the intervention is equally widely cost-effective from the point of view of the health system thanks to the reduction in the use of resources. It is concluded that, from an economic perspective, the vaccination campaign has high social returns.

Keywords

cost benefit analysis; vaccination; COVID-19; health economics; economic appraisal; pharmacoeconomics

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Health Policy and Services

Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 25 November 2021
Commenter: Cristina Adroher
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: In calculating the cost-benefit ratio from the perspective of the healthcare system, there was an amount that was not well done (it was necessary to include the savings corresponding to the avoided PCRs). This changes the figure upwards, without changing the interpretation of the result. We very much appreciate to the user who notified us of the error.
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