Prices of paediatric vaccines in European vaccination programmes

Abstract

Objective: To compare the vaccine prices per vaccinated child under 18 and vaccine funding and procurement systems in the national vaccination programmes (NVPs) in Europe. Methods: The on-line survey targeted to NVP managers collected data referred to the information available on 31 December 2016. The prices of vaccines were categorised into three groups. The price per child 1) fully vaccinated comprised all vaccines and doses offered in the NVP; 2) vaccinated with standard vaccines comprised the vaccines included in the NVP in all countries; 3) vaccinated with recent vaccines comprised the pneumococcal conjugate, human papillomavirus and rotavirus vaccines. Results: In the 23 out of 32 countries that answered the survey, 17 funded the vaccines by taxes and six by social insurance. 18 countries procured the vaccines through public tenders or negotiations. Five countries purchased the vaccines by healthcare providers and reimbursed from the health insurance system. In the countries with vaccine procurement through public tenders the price per child vaccinated with standard vaccines ranged from €59 to €117 when using pentavalent and from €98 to €220 when using hexavalent vaccines. The mean price per child vaccinated with recent vaccines was €130 for the countries that offered pneumococcal conjugate and human papillomavirus vaccines and €142 for the countries that in addition included rotavirus vaccine. In the countries that purchased the vaccines by healthcare providers and reimbursed from the health insurance system the price per child vaccinated with standard vaccines ranged from €136 to €427. Conclusions: The vaccine prices differ notably in Europe. Prices were lower in countries where vaccines in the NVP were tax-funded and nationally or regionally procured. Improved procurement systems could lead to substantial savings or possibilities to introduce more vaccines into the NVP.