By using the gained knowledge from previous years, the Work Package 3 (WP3) team was able to start their ambitious modelling program.

Creating the modelling program

The team initially focused on the static approach of modelling based on the literature review on available (economic) models done in 2019 as well as the importance of heterogeneity in elderly, hotspots for infection spread, and methods endorsing prevention of infection. The team received access to those models available within industry for specific infections and the related vaccines (influenza, RSV, PCV, pertussis, E. coli) in 2020.

The diversity of the models and the ambition to apply the modelling approach in a broader context (rather than solely focusing on the traditional approach of cost-effectiveness evaluation) allowed the team to envision a modelling program in 2021 with three specific objectives:

  1. To develop a CORE model to answer all the questions from the perspective of the older adults population as a whole;
  2. To construct a catalogue program of different models that answer the economic questions separately using a specific model type per infection, infection group, and country. It allows to search for more specific answers as compared to the previous model;
  3. To assess a scoring system of countries evaluating their prevention strategy program as developed and implemented today for aging adults. The scoring system integrates information obtained from the previous two objectives. It will highlight the effort to get to an acceptable level of infection control and measure the benefit in getting to a higher level related to healthy ageing.

CORE model        

The objective is to develop a CORE respiratory model, starting with influenza as test-case, that assesses the economic value/cost-effectiveness of present and new preventative interventions.

Catalogue model

The aim of this model is to develop and construct the necessary building blocks (e.g., data-collection method, model development, analysis tools, result presentation, digital accessibility) over a two-year period (2021-2022). The building blocks will correctly and transparently tackle country-level economic value assessment in all its different aspects (e.g., cost-effectiveness, budget impact, constrained optimization, fiscal modelling) of prevention strategies. These strategies include vaccination against frequently occurring infection problems in ageing adults using a catalogue vision (question identification, multi-modelling, specific result enhancement, links to subsequent action programs).

Scoring system
By developing a scoring instrument countries can be categorized based on their prevention program against infectious diseases in ageing adults.

Sharing Research Results

In December 2020 the team dedicated a section of ‘Value in Health‘ to health economics of vaccines, including 5 articles from the VITAL consortium. Two articles are currently in progress and will be submitted to the Journal of Infectious Disease and the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care. WP3 will also represent VITAL during this year’s virtual ISPOR from 17 – 20 May.

The aim of Work Package 3

WP3 has the task to develop strategies for the economic assessment of infectious diseases prevention in aging adults at country level in Europe. To reach this goal WP3 focuses the assessment of the (broad) economic value of present and new preventative interventions and the evaluation of implementation of the (new) preventative interventions into a country’s specific health care system.