OBJECTIVES: Today, 2- and 3-dose rotavirus vaccines exist for infants to help prevent rotavirus-related acute gastroenteritis. The aim of this study was to determine the hypothetical budget impact of replacing the 2-dose rotavirus vaccine, implemented in the United Kingdom (UK) National Immunization Program (NIP) since 2012, with a 3-dose rotavirus vaccine.

METHODS: A budget-impact analysis using a cost-consequence approach was carried out from a payers’ perspective, covering a time horizon of 5 years, including UK birth cohorts from 2023 to 2028 that would be eligible as part of the NIP. Price parity for the 2- and 3-dose vaccine options for the full vaccination course was assumed in the base-case analysis. No discounting was applied. Outcomes included the difference in total costs and total reductions in healthcare resource utilisation. Univariate sensitivity and scenario analyses were carried out to quantify the impact of input parameters on results.

RESULTS: In the base-case scenario, a 2-dose vaccine would lead to potential budgetary savings of £101,456,284 over a 5-year period in comparison to implementation of a 3-dose vaccine. Approximately, 65% of these budgetary savings would be due to a reduction in rotavirus-infection related healthcare resource utilization and costs. This is a consequence of higher per-dose efficacy of the 2-dose vs 3-dose vaccine. The remaining 35% of these budgetary savings are due to a reduction in administration costs since fewer vaccine doses would be administered. The hypothetical budgetary savings represent approximately 3% to 4% of the total public health budget allocated to vaccines and countermeasures (£473,600,000 in 2020/2021). Costs and consequences were most sensitive to vaccine coverage and compliance, vaccine price, and administration costs.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the 2-dose rotavirus vaccine is predicted to be cost-saving compared with the 3-dose vaccine from a payers’ perspective.