mRNA-based COVID-19 booster vaccination is highly effective and cost-effective in Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Australia implemented an mRNA-based booster vaccination strategy against the COVID-19 Omicron variant in November 2021. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the booster strategy over 180 days.

METHODS:

We developed a decision-analytic Markov model of COVID-19 to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a booster strategy (administered 3 months after 2nd dose) in those aged ≥ 16 years, from a healthcare system perspective. The willingness-to-pay threshold was chosen as A$ 50,000.

RESULTS:

Compared with 2-doses of COVID-19 vaccines without a booster, Australia's booster strategy would incur an additional cost of A$0.88 billion but save A$1.28 billion in direct medical cost and gain 670 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in 180 days of its implementation. This suggested the booster strategy is cost-saving, corresponding to a benefit-cost ratio of 1.45 and a net monetary benefit of A$0.43 billion. The strategy would prevent 1.32 million new infections, 65,170 hospitalisations, 6,927 ICU admissions and 1,348 deaths from COVID-19 in 180 days. Further, a universal booster strategy of having all individuals vaccinated with the booster shot immediately once their eligibility is met would have resulted in a gain of 1,599 QALYs, a net monetary benefit of A$1.46 billion and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.95 in 180 days.

CONCLUSION:

The COVID-19 booster strategy implemented in Australia is likely to be effective and cost-effective for the Omicron epidemic. Universal booster vaccination would have further improved its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

• Authors: Rui Li, Hanting Liu, Christopher K Fairley, Jason J Ong, Yuming Guo, Pengyi Lu, Zhuoru Zou, Li Xie, Guihua Zhuang, Yan Li, Mingwang Shen, Lei Zhang
• Journal: Vaccine (Vaccine) Vol. 41 Issue 15 Pg. 2439-2446 (04 06 2023) ISSN: 1873-2518 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 36781332 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• COVID-19 Vaccines

Topics

• Humans
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• COVID-19 Vaccines
• COVID-19 (prevention & control)
• SARS-CoV-2
• Vaccination
• Australia (epidemiology)