For many countries, there is limited data on the costs of running immunization services, and even less on the costs of increasing immunization coverage. An article, led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, supported by Management Health Sciences (MSH), and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, looks at the landscape of immunization programs costs in low- and middle-income countries.
The article discussed opportunities for closing the empirical evidence gap in available estimates for the costs of providing immunization services, the remaining gap in evidence on the costs of increasing immunization coverage, and proposed solutions for closing this gap.
It highlights how costing studies would benefit from improved, systematic reporting and leveraging ongoing program evaluation efforts to collect cost data. Long-term investments in the health system may allow for routine data collection and improved budgeting and planning efficiency.
Any organization or individual working in the field of immunization economics can submit findings, opportunities, calls to action, or other relevant work below to be shared with our community.