Cost-effectiveness analysis of human papillomavirus-vaccination programs to prevent cervical cancer in Austria

ObjectiveThe study predicts long-term cervical cancer related population health and economic effects of introducing the HPV-vaccination for 12-year-old girls (and boys) in addition to current screening compared with screening only.MethodHealth effects are predicted by a dynamic transmission model. Model results are used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) in € per life year gained (LYG) for a time-horizon between 2008 and 2060 from a public payer and a societal perspective.ResultsVaccination of girls results a discounted ICER of € 64,000/LYG and € 50,000/LYG from a payer's and societal perspectives respectively. The additional vaccination of boys increases the ICER to € 311,000 and € 299,000/LYG respectively. Results were most sensitive to vaccination price, discount rate and time-horizon.ConclusionHPV-vaccination for girls should be cost-effective when adopting a longer time-horizon and a societal perspective. Applying a shorter time frame and a payer's perspective or vaccinating boys may not be cost-effective without reducing the vaccine price.