Taipei, Taiwan - Cervical cancer (CC) is among the leading cancers in Taiwanese women of all, suggesting a need for prevention beyond current screenings.
Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the primary causal agent for CC. Two HPV vaccines are available; both are good value for money when compared to screening alone. The preferable choice for mass vaccination from a health economic perspective remains to be determined.
A recent study published in
Value in Health, “
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Bivalent Compared to the Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in Taiwan,” uses a cohort model to compare the two vaccines. The bivalent vaccine is estimated to avert 29% more CC cases and deaths compared with the quadrivalent vaccine due to its protection beyond vaccine types.
This results in an additional economic and health benefit which outweigh the additional benefit of genital warts prevention from the quadrivalent vaccine.
“Both vaccines have the potential to protect Taiwanese women against CC,” says Nadia Demarteau, lead author of the study. “However in the Taiwanese setting, our results indicate that using the bivalent vaccine provides more value for money.”
Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research as well as policy papers to help health care leaders make evidence-based decisions. The journal is published bi-monthly and has over 8,000 subscribers (clinicians, decision makers, and researchers worldwide).
International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) is a nonprofit, international, educational and scientific organization that strives to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of health care resource use to improve health.
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