Valutazione economica dell’attivazione in Italia della schedula sequenziale per la vaccinazione antipoliomielitica

Abstract

Objective: A sequential schedule based on two doses of inactivated poliovaccine (IPV) followed by two doses of oral poliovaccine (OPV), which has replaced the OPV-only schedule adopted in Italy up to 1999, reduces the incidence of vaccine-associated polioparalysis (VAPP), the most dangerous adverse event of OPV. The aim of this study was to assess whether the expected benefits derived from fewer cases of VAPP (and, consequently, reduced treatment costs) would offset the increase in national spending associated with the new vaccination programme (because of the use of the more expensive IPV).