Budget Impact of RSVpreF Maternal Vaccine Among Pregnant Women for Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Among Privately Insured Infants in Dubai, UAE

OBJECTIVES: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract illnesses (LRTI) among young children globally. In Dubai, viral respiratory infections account for nearly one-sixth of healthcare encounters among children. We estimated 5-year budgetary impact of novel RSVpreF among pregnant women compared with no intervention for protection of privately insured infants aged <1 year in Dubai.

METHODS: Clinical outcomes and economic costs of RSV-LRTI were evaluated among infants over a 5-year modeling horizon using a deterministic cohort model. Model population included pregnant women targeted—on a weekly basis—for maternal vaccination (10% uptake) and their infants. Input values were estimated based on local data, as available, and other published and unpublished sources, as necessary. Model outcomes, including cases of RSV-LRTI, RSV-LRTI-attributable deaths, and costs of RSV-LRTI and vaccination, were projected during the first year of life for five annual birth cohorts. The expected budget impact of year-round RSVpreF use during pregnancy was characterized in terms of overall and per-member per-year (PMPY) costs (reported in USD).

RESULTS: Over 5 years without use of maternal RSVpreF, there would be 1,960 RSV-LRTI hospitalizations, 5,655 RSV-LRTI cases requiring emergency department (ED) care, and 15,652 RSV-LRTI cases requiring outpatient clinic (OC) care; corresponding total medical care costs would be $11.5 million. Year-round use of RSVpreF among pregnant women would prevent 107 hospitalizations, 196 cases requiring ED care, and 549 cases requiring OC care over 5 years. With medical care costs projected to be lower by $0.5 million and cost of vaccination projected to be $3.6 million, total costs would increase by $3.1 million overall or $0.19 PMPY.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this analysis show that use of RSVpreF among pregnant women in Dubai would considerably reduce cases of RSV-LRTI among privately insured infants with little added cost per covered life.