IMFIN brief 3: Components of immunization costs

What are the key components of immunization costs, and how do they vary across delivery platforms? Which costs are typically shared with other health services, and which are specific to immunization?

Key points

• Immunization costs include vaccines, labor, supplies, transportation, operations and maintenance, cold chain equipment, and capital investments in buildings and technology. Labor and vaccines are the major cost components.
• Delivery costs (non-vaccine costs) account for nearly half of immunization costs.
• In health facilities and at the administrative level, immunization costs are typically shared across multiple health services and activities; adequately budgeted and staffed primary health services are thus essential to delivering comprehensive immunization services.
• Recent studies on immunization costs have found significant variation in total facility and unit costs within and between countries.
• High-volume health facilities tend to have lower immunization costs per child than facilities in rural areas. This should be taken into consideration in budgeting and resource allocation.
• New vaccine introduction requires one-time startup costs—such as for training, printing of materials, and adjustments to the cold chain—that must be adequately budgeted for.