OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the epidemiological impact and return on investment of the pediatric immunization program (PIP) in Poland from both healthcare payer and societal perspectives.

METHODS: A health economic model was developed focusing on the 9 vaccines recommended by Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy in children aged 0-10 years. Separate decision trees were used to model the 12 pathogen targeted by the PIP (i.e., diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, rotavirus, and tuberculosis). The 2019 birth cohort (388,178) was followed over their lifetime, with the model estimating health outcomes and costs with and without the PIP based on current and prevaccine era disease incidence estimates, respectively. For the societal perspective, the model included productivity loss costs associated with disease. For both perspectives, the model estimated incremental cases, disease-related deaths, life-years lost, quality-adjusted life-years lost, and costs (2020 złoty [PLN]) discounted at 3.5% (health outcomes) and 5.0% (cost outcomes) per year; the financial benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was then calculated.

RESULTS: Across all 12 targeted pathogens, the Polish PIP prevented more than 622,000 cases of disease, 1,600 deaths, 38,000 life-years lost, and 39,500 quality-adjusted life-years lost. The PIP was associated with vaccination costs of over PLN 280 million. Pediatric immunization was associated with over PLN 600 million in averted direct medical costs (BCR = 2.2) and over PLN 2,010 million in averted societal costs (BCR = 7.2).

CONCLUSIONS: The Polish PIP, which has not previously been systematically assessed, brings large-scale prevention of disease-related morbidity, premature mortality, and associated costs. This highlights the value of continued investment in pediatric immunization in Poland.