OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the pharmacoeconomic impact, of the switch from the current immunization schedule with a tetravalent vaccine (DTwP-Hib) +HBV+IPV to a new schedule with an aP hexavalent (DTaP-HBV-HiB-IPV) vaccine in Algeria from Ministry of Health (MoH) and societal perspective.

METHODS: A cost minimization analysis was designed with a 1-year time horizon for all vaccination eligible cohorts in Algeria. Demographic data references were taken from the national register, current immunization schedule and the new schedule from the MoH decree.

The costs included were vaccines acquisition, adverse events management, vaccines administration, vaccines wastage, transporting children to vaccination centers, vaccines supply chain, loss of parents’ productivity. All costs were reported in euros and collected locally. A one-way sensitivity analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The overall cost associated to the national immunization program was found to increase by +26 M€ (+58%) per year versus to the current schedule.

Except for vaccine acquisition costs, which would increase, we found -19 M€ savings per year in the other costs considered as listed above.

From the sensitivity analysis the cost drivers were found to be vaccine prices, the probability of use of medication for adverse events, the price of children transport.

CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an aP hexavalent vaccine in Algeria likely to be a sustainable alternative to the current immunization program, due to the savings on the management of adverse events and programmatic costs,

In addition to the cost-savings, the introduction of an aP hexavalent vaccine, offering convenience and reducing the number of visits by 36%, may contribute to VCR increase and thus control of targeted diseases.

Future studies may provide insights on the VCR, epidemiological and economic impact of this implementation in Algeria.

KEY WORDS: Vaccine, Hexavalent vaccine, Cost minimization, Immunization schedule, VCR.