Cost-Effectiveness of Pneumococcal Vaccination and Uptake Improvement Programs in Underserved and General Population Adults Aged < 65 Years

In US adults aged < 65 years, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended when high-risk conditions are present, but vaccine uptake is low. Additionally, there are race-based differences in illness risk and vaccination rates. The cost-effectiveness of programs to improve vaccine uptake or of alternative vaccination policies to increase protection is unclear. A decision analysis compared, in US black and general population cohorts aged 50 years, the public health impact and cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination recommendations, without and with a vaccine uptake improvement program, and alternative population vaccine policies. Program-based uptake improvement (base case: 12.3% absolute increase, costing $1.78/eligible patient) was based on clinical trial data. US data informed population-specific pneumococcal risk. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated using Delphi panel and trial data. In both black and general population cohorts, an uptake improvement program for current vaccination recommendations was favored, costing $48,621 per QALY gained in black populations ($54,929/QALY in the general population) compared to current recommendations without a program. Alternative vaccination policies largely prevented less illness and were economically unfavorable. In sensitivity analyses, uptake programs were favored, at a $100,000/QALY threshold, unless they improved absolute vaccine uptake < 2.1% in blacks or < 2.6% in the general population. Results were robust in sensitivity analyses. Programs to increase adult pneumococcal vaccination uptake are economically reasonable compared to changes in vaccination recommendations, and more favorable in underserved minorities than in the general population. If addressing race-based health disparities is a priority, evidence-based programs to increase vaccination should be considered.