Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Vaccination programs are among the most effective public health interventions, reducing morbidity, mortality, and associated healthcare expenditures. This study assessed the clinical and economic impact of publicly funded pneumococcal, human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza, and herpes zoster vaccination programs in Austria from healthcare payer and societal perspectives.
METHODS: A population-based budget impact analysis was conducted in accordance with the Principles of Good Practice for Budget Impact Analysis II. The Austrian population eligible for each vaccination program was modelled over a five-year horizon (2026-2030). Epidemiological data, vaccine effectiveness, vaccination coverage, healthcare resource utilization, mortality, and Austrian cost data were incorporated. Outcomes included avoided disease cases, deaths, healthcare expenditures, productivity losses, sickness absence episodes, and return on investment. Costs were assessed from both healthcare system and societal perspectives.
RESULTS: Across all vaccination programs, total avoided costs amounted to approximately €1.06 billion over five years, including €485 million in direct healthcare cost savings and €574 million in indirect cost savings attributable to reduced productivity losses. Vaccination prevented approximately 643,000 disease cases, 3,600 deaths, 152,000 sickness absence episodes, and nearly 2 million lost workdays. Influenza vaccination generated the largest overall economic impact, resulting in approximately €486 million in avoided costs and more than 466,000 prevented influenza cases. HPV vaccination yielded approximately €432 million in avoided costs, primarily through the prevention of HPV-related cancers and precancerous lesions. Pneumococcal vaccination prevented approximately 1,520 deaths, while herpes zoster vaccination substantially reduced herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia cases.
CONCLUSIONS: Publicly funded vaccination programs in Austria represent a high-value public health investment. Beyond reducing disease burden, mortality, and healthcare resource utilization, vaccination substantially decreases productivity losses and generates positive economic returns. From a societal perspective, every €1 invested in vaccination yielded approximately €1.20 in avoided costs, supporting continued investment in prevention-oriented healthcare policies.