Abstract
With a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine soon to become available for widespread use, several studies have modelled the cost-effectiveness of vaccination. These pioneer studies are likely to be influential on the design of further analyses, and we have therefore summarised and critically reviewed the strengths and limitations of their methods and assumptions. Despite a lack of transparency in some key elements, the most influential assumptions were identified as relating to vaccine effectiveness, cervical screening, and model design. Although the studies suggest that the introduction of an HPV vaccine could be cost effective compared with current practice in the USA, there is still substantial uncertainty around key variables, and model validation seems insufficient. The desirability of vaccinating boys in addition to girls has been explored in only one study. Further refinements to model design and epidemiological variables of (type-specific) HPV disease progression, and expansions on the options for vaccine use, are required for policy making.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 289-296 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | The Lancet Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2007 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:ATN is funded by a research scholarship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Public Health Scholarship 402920, and by a GlaxoSmithKline Australia support grant. PB acknowledges support from grant SP22-CT-2004-502084 (Polymod) by the European Commission (Research Directorate-General). JW and CRM acknowledge funding by NHMRC capacity building grant in population health research on mathematical modelling. WJE is funded by the UK Health Protection Agency.
Funding Information:
ATN attended a funded trip (paid for by CSL Ltd, Parkville, VIC, Australia) to the 22nd Papillomavirus Conference in 2005. The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance did a national serosurvey of HPV, which was entirely investigator driven, but the testing was funded by CSL Ltd, and done by Merck USA. None of the other authors have conflicts of interest to declare.
