OBJECTIVES : To determine economic burden of vaccination in the Repablic of Belarus to support decision making in health care policy and to assess the possibility of using a human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV).

METHODS : Analysis of the national legislation about vaccination was carried out. The annual plan for centralized public procurement of medicines was analyzed. The “cost of the illness” method, taking into account the direct medical costs for one citizen of the Republic of Belarus in the long term life expectancy (74.3 years) was performed. The principles of using HPV were analyzed. All calculations are presented in euros (by 2019).

RESULTS : The estimated cost for implementing the National immunization schedule (NIS) in 2019 is 1076 €; and 1113 € - in 2018. In 2019, 78.4% of the costs accounted for the necessary medical support and 21.6% for the cost of vaccines. In 2018, this ratio was 78.3 and 21.7%. It was revealed that in 2019 the cost of implementing only mandatory vaccinations was 154.7 €, whereas for vaccinations according to special indications (pneumococcal and influenza vaccines) - 922 € (85.62% of the cost of the schedule). If these conditions are met, the share of HPV vaccine from the vaccination schedule can be: from 16.6% to 11% (for different manufacturers).

CONCLUSIONS : The evolution of the vaccination system of the Republic of Belarus and the optimization of the vaccination schedule has reduced the costs of implementing vaccination by 3.28%. A significant part of the cost of the National immunization schedule - 85.62% - consists of vaccines for individual indications. The economic aspect may be a significant criterion for the inclusion or non-inclusion of a new position in the National immunization schedule.