Estimating the Public Health and Economic Impact of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV) Vaccination for Adults Aged 50 and Older in South Korea
Author(s)
GAHEE KIM, BS1, Jaehee Jung, RPh2, Hye-Young Kang, PhD2.
1Department of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Regulatory Sciences, Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea, Republic of, 2College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea, Republic of.
1Department of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Regulatory Sciences, Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea, Republic of, 2College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea, Republic of.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the public health and economic impact of increasing the uptake of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) among Korean adults aged ≥ 50 years by estimating the number of herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) cases prevented and the associated cost savings.
METHODS: Preventable HZ and PHN cases were calculated by multiplying the population size of adults aged ≥ 50 years, estimated HZ/PHN incidence rates among unvaccinated individuals, vaccination rates, and vaccine effectiveness. The current vaccination rate was assumed to be 10%, based on previous Korean studies. Following the introduction of the National Immunization Program (NIP), the vaccination rate was assumed to be 70%, reflecting expert opinion that zoster vaccine uptake would be slightly lower than the 80% influenza vaccination rate observed in older adults under the NIP. Vaccine effectiveness values for HZ (95.4-98.9%) and PHN (95.4-98.9%) were determined through systematic review. Per-person treatment costs were estimated based on 2021 National Health Insurance Services (NHIS) claims data reported in the literature and adjusted to 2025 values using the NHIS Medical Cost Conversion Index.
RESULTS: At current vaccination rates, RZV prevents 71,439 HZ and 27,055 PHN cases annually among Korean adults aged ≥ 50 years. With NIP implementation, preventable cases would increase to 500,071 HZ and 189,383 PHN cases. From the NHI perspective, current 10% RZV coverage is projected to save $85,683,622 annually, whereas scaling coverage to 70% under the NIP would yield $599,785,357 in annual savings. Societal cost savings would increase from $137,077,986 to $959,545,904 with expanded vaccination coverage.
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing RZV vaccination to NIP-level for adults aged ≥ 50 years would substantially reduce HZ/PHN disease burden in Korea's aging population while generating significant cost savings for both the healthcare system and society.
METHODS: Preventable HZ and PHN cases were calculated by multiplying the population size of adults aged ≥ 50 years, estimated HZ/PHN incidence rates among unvaccinated individuals, vaccination rates, and vaccine effectiveness. The current vaccination rate was assumed to be 10%, based on previous Korean studies. Following the introduction of the National Immunization Program (NIP), the vaccination rate was assumed to be 70%, reflecting expert opinion that zoster vaccine uptake would be slightly lower than the 80% influenza vaccination rate observed in older adults under the NIP. Vaccine effectiveness values for HZ (95.4-98.9%) and PHN (95.4-98.9%) were determined through systematic review. Per-person treatment costs were estimated based on 2021 National Health Insurance Services (NHIS) claims data reported in the literature and adjusted to 2025 values using the NHIS Medical Cost Conversion Index.
RESULTS: At current vaccination rates, RZV prevents 71,439 HZ and 27,055 PHN cases annually among Korean adults aged ≥ 50 years. With NIP implementation, preventable cases would increase to 500,071 HZ and 189,383 PHN cases. From the NHI perspective, current 10% RZV coverage is projected to save $85,683,622 annually, whereas scaling coverage to 70% under the NIP would yield $599,785,357 in annual savings. Societal cost savings would increase from $137,077,986 to $959,545,904 with expanded vaccination coverage.
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing RZV vaccination to NIP-level for adults aged ≥ 50 years would substantially reduce HZ/PHN disease burden in Korea's aging population while generating significant cost savings for both the healthcare system and society.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE428
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Budget Impact Analysis
Disease
Vaccines