OBJECTIVES: The objective of this cost minimization analysis is to estimate the impact, of the switch from the current immunization schedule with a Tetravalent vaccine (DTwP-Hib) to a new schedule with a Hexavalent vaccine (with/without OPV), on vaccine delivery costs in Algeria.

METHODS: The cost minimization analysis was designed with a 1-year time horizon for all new births per year (1.2 Million) in Algeria. Demographic data references were taken from the national register, current immunization schedule from the Ministry of Health (MoH) 2016 decree and two scenarios have been simulated for the new schedule: one from MoH’s 2018 decree (with Hexavalent/not yet applied) and the second one is an assumption (2018 schedule without all OPV doses).The costs included are delivery costs: Labor (paid and volunteer human resources); Supply chain (costs for cold chain equipment, vehicles, transport, and fuel); Service delivery (costs for program management, training, social mobilization, and disease surveillance); Capital (buildings, utilities, other overheads/capital costs). Vaccine acquisition costs have not been taken into consideration. All costs were reported in euros and collected from the literature[1]. A one-way sensitivity analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The potentially new schedule including a hexavalent vaccine showed a budget saving potential of 23 M€ (-35% on vaccine delivery costs) per year versus the currently applied schedule. The potentially new schedule including a hexavalent vaccine without all OPV doses showed savings of 30 M€ (-45% on vaccine delivery costs) versus the currently applied schedule.

CONCLUSIONS: The total vaccine delivery budget for the application of a new immunization schedule (introduction of a hexavalent vaccine) in Algeria has a considerable savings potential on health expenses and MoH budget (-23 M€ per year). Furthermore, the application of the WHO recommendations in terms of OPV withdrawal from the schedule would allow significant savings (-30M€ per year) on health expenses.