Estimating the economic burden of RSV infection and cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical RSV vaccine

Project start and end dates: 9/1/2018 - 8/31/2021

Background: 
RSV has substantial health impacts in the US, especially at the ends of the lifespan. Each year, RSV represents the most common cause of hospitalization for infants and more than 10,000 deaths are attributed to RSV in the elderly.

Objectives:
To estimate the economic burden of RSV infection and anticipated cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical RSV vaccine by:

• Measuring direct medical costs for patients and opportunity (time) costs for patients and informal caregivers
• Estimating the effects of RSV infection on the quality of life of patients and caregivers/family members via health utility assessment; and
• Projecting health and economic outcomes, including cost-effectiveness, for a hypothetical RSV vaccine

Research Topics & Methods:

• Quality of life/health utility measurement
• Cost-effectiveness modeling
• Family spillover

Implications:
Immunizations are among the most effective health interventions available in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relies on economic studies of immunization programs to guide immunization policies and practice.

Funding statement:
This project is funded as part of a larger group of studies, the Joint Initiative in Vaccine Economics (JIVE), Phase 6, through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U01IP001104), now in its 20th year of funding.

Collaborators:
David Hutton, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Michigan

Emily Martin, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, University of Michigan

Lindsey Kim, MD, MPH
Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Gayle Langley, MD, MPH
Medical Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Jamie Pike, PhD
Health Economist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Fangiun Zhou, PhD
Health Scientist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention