A Multi-country Study of the Household Willingness-to-Pay for Dengue Vaccines: Household Surveys in Vietnam, Thailand, and Colombia.

Jung-Seok Lee,Chukiat Sirivichayakul,Kang-Sung Lee,Brian A Maskery,Le Huu Tho,Mabel Carabali,Vittal Mogasale,Jacqueline K Lim,Luiz J Da Silva,Dang Duc Anh,Vu Dinh Thiem,Ivan D Velez,Pornthep Chanthavanich,Jorge E Osorio,Kriengsak Limkittikul,Donald S Shepard

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003810

Abstract

BackgroundThe rise in dengue fever cases and the absence of dengue vaccines will likely cause governments to consider various types of effective means for controlling the disease. Given strong public interests in potential dengue vaccines, it is essential to understand the private economic benefits of dengue vaccines for accelerated introduction of vaccines into the public sector program and private markets of high-risk countries.Methodology/Principal FindingsA contingent valuation study for a hypothetical dengue vaccine was administered to 400 households in a multi-country setting: Vietnam, Thailand, and Colombia. All respondents received a description of the hypothetical dengue vaccine scenarios of 70% or 95% effectiveness for 10 or 30 years with a three dose series. Five price points were determined after pilot tests in order to reflect different local situations such as household income levels and general perceptions towards dengue fever. We adopted either Poisson or negative binomial regression models to calculate average willingness-to-pay (WTP), as well as median WTP. We found that there is a significant demand for dengue vaccines. The parametric median WTP is $26.4 ($8.8 per dose) in Vietnam, $70.3 ($23.4 per dose) in Thailand, and $23 ($7.7 per dose) in Colombia. Our study also suggests that respondents place more value on vaccinating young children than school age children and adults.Conclusions/SignificanceKnowing that dengue vaccines are not yet available, our study provides critical information to both public and private sectors. The study results can be used to ensure broad coverage with an affordable price and incorporated into cost benefit analyses, which can inform prioritization of alternative health interventions at the national level.

Highlights

Dengue fever is a major public health concern in South-East Asia and South America
There are four serotypes of the dengue virus, and dengue infection occurs in almost all age groups
The global burden of dengue has increased dramatically in the past five years, and presently, dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are recognized as a major cause of mortality and morbidity in tropical and sub-tropical countries[1,2]

Summary

Introduction

Dengue fever is a major public health concern in South-East Asia and South America. Clinical presentation ranges from selflimited, mild febrile illness to classic dengue fever (DF) to the more severe form of illness, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The global burden of dengue has increased dramatically in the past five years, and presently, DF and DHF are recognized as a major cause of mortality and morbidity in tropical and sub-tropical countries[1,2]. Mosquito control prevention efforts have not been sufficient to control the disease. The rise in dengue fever cases and the absence of dengue vaccines will likely cause governments to consider various types of effective means for controlling the disease. Given strong public interests in potential dengue vaccines, it is essential to understand the private economic benefits of dengue vaccines for accelerated introduction of vaccines into the public sector program and private markets of high-risk countries

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion