Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Maternal Vaccination Program Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Norway.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is recognized as the primary cause of hospitalizations among children with lower respiratory tract infections in developed countries, placing a significant burden on both patients and healthcare systems. The efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of maternal vaccination with the novel RSVpreF vaccine have been evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial, showing a decreased risk of severe infection in infants. Our study assesses the cost-effectiveness of the RSVpreF vaccine and seasonal variation of costs in a Norwegian setting.

Methods: A Markov model was used to estimate the clinical outcomes, costs, and quality-adjusted life years of a hypothetical cohort of Norwegian infants born during a single RSV season. A seasonal vaccination program with RSVpreF vaccine was compared to no intervention by means of an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) from extended healthcare and societal perspectives.

Results: A seasonal maternal vaccination program with RSVpreF in Norway is cost-effective from both a healthcare and societal perspective, given the Norwegian willingness-to-pay threshold range. The program could prevent 27% of the yearly RSV-associated hospital admissions, as well as 14% and 24% of the yearly RSV-associated primary care and outpatient visits. A 10% increase/decrease in hospitalization costs during the winter/summer months leads to a 26% reduction in the ICER from a healthcare perspective and turns the intervention into a dominant strategy from a societal one.

Conclusions: Based on the RSVpreF vaccine's list price in Norway, the seasonal vaccination program is cost-effective from both the healthcare and societal perspectives, considering a willingness-to-pay threshold of 500,000 NOK.