Cost-Effectiveness of Vaccination in Cameroon
Author Information
Author(s): Ebong Cliford E, Levy Pierre
Primary Institution: Ngong District Health Service, Cameroon
Hypothesis
How do new vaccines and vaccine wastage rates affect the cost-effectiveness of routine immunization in a Cameroonian health district?
Conclusion
The study found that the outreach vaccination strategy was less efficient and had higher costs compared to the fixed strategy, primarily due to low implementation and high dropout rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 62% of planned outreach immunization sessions were effectively carried out.
- The average cost per Fully Immunized Child (FIC) was higher than in many other African health districts.
- The cost of vaccines wasted exceeded the national norm, impacting overall efficiency.
Takeaway
This study looked at how much it costs to vaccinate kids in Cameroon and found that some methods waste a lot of vaccines, making it more expensive.
Methodology
The study was descriptive and cross-sectional, collecting data retrospectively from 16 health centers that provided EPI services.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on retrospective data collection and administrative records.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable due to the specific context of the Ngong health district and its unique challenges.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on children aged 0-11 months in the Ngong health district, which has a population of 143,238.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website