Prioritizing vaccine introduction to China's National Immunization Program: a multi-criteria decision analysis

BMC Public Health. 2024 Dec 18;24(1):3458. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-21013-7.

Abstract

Background: To prioritize the introducing of new vaccines into China's National Immunization Program (NIP) among 10 candidate vaccines across four classes.

Methods: We developed a vaccine value framework using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to simulate the introduction of new vaccines into NIP, covering 21 criteria encompassing six dimensions: safety, effectiveness, economy, innovation, accessibility, and appropriateness. Two decision scenarios were considered: Scenario One prioritized the four classes of vaccines, while Scenario Two identified specific vaccines within each class.

Results: In the vaccine value framework, safety received the highest weight, while innovation received the lowest. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was identified as a top priority for inclusion in NIP, followed by Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB), and Rotavirus (RV) vaccines. The specific types are domestic bivalent HPV vaccine, imported 13-valent PCV vaccine, domestic HIB vaccine, and domestic RV vaccine. The results of the one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated robustness.

Conclusions: This study provides a transparent, comprehensive, and quantifiable vaccine value framework to aid decision-making for introducing new vaccines into China's NIP. According to the MCDA results, HPV should be considered the top vaccine candidate for the NIP.

Keywords: China; Multi-criteria decision analysis; National immunization program; Vaccines.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Decision Support Techniques*
  • Haemophilus Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Health Priorities
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs* / organization & administration
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Rotavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines

Substances

  • Haemophilus Vaccines
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines
  • Rotavirus Vaccines
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines
  • Vaccines