Cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing universal childhood rotavirus vaccination in Bangladesh

Diarrhea is one of the world's leading killers of children, and globally, rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among under 5 children. In Bangladesh, rotavirus kills nearly 6,000 under 5 children in each year. To reduce the burden of childhood rotavirus diseases, universal rotavirus vaccination is recommended by World Health Organization. The objective of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of introducing universal childhood rotavirus vaccination with the newly developed ROTAVAC vaccine in national Expanded Programme of Immunization in Bangladesh. We developed a decision model to examine the potential impact of vaccination in Bangladesh and to examine the effect if the vaccination is applied in the nationwide immunization program schedule. Introduction of childhood universal rotavirus vaccination in Bangladesh scenario appears as highly cost-effective and would offer substantial future benefits for the young population if vaccinated today. The cost per DALY averted of introducing the rotavirus vaccine compared with status quo is approximately US$ 740.27 and US$ 728.67 per DALY averted from the health system and societal perspective respectively which is very cost-effective using GDP threshold level according to World Health Organization definition. The results of this analysis seek to contribute to an evidence-based recommendation about the introduction of universal rotavirus vaccination in national Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) in Bangladesh.