From 2017 to 2020, the Government of India undertook a large-scale measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign to eliminate measles, and to control rubella and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). As a part of this campaign, more than 324 million children aged between 9 months and 15 years were vaccinated with a single dose MR vaccine in 34 Indian states and Union Territories.
The actual delivery cost of conducting a MR vaccination campaign in India was not known and has not been estimated previously.
To fill the gap on campaign costing evidence both in India and globally, ThinkWell and the International Vaccine Institute have conducted a study to estimate the cost of India’s Measles-Rubella campaign. The study estimated the incremental financial cost of the delivery of the MR immunization in three Indian states (Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam) and the full economic costs in one state (Uttar Pradesh).
A few key findings from the study:
The financial delivery cost per dose of the MR campaign including all partner support ranged from US$0.16 (INR 10.95) in Uttar Pradesh to US$0.34 (INR 24.13) in Gujarat.
In Uttar Pradesh, the full economic delivery cost per dose was US$0.87 (INR 61.39).
The key financial cost drivers were incentives related to service delivery and supervision, the printing of reporting formats for record-keeping, social mobilization, and advocacy.
The financial delivery cost per dose estimated was higher than the government pre-fixed budget per child for the MR campaign, probably indicating an insufficient budget. However, the study also found underutilization of the MR budget in two states and use of other sources of funding for the campaign. This indicates a potential need for more flexibility around the use of campaign budgets in Indian states.
The cost estimates generated in this study can help inform planning, budgeting, and cost projections for future immunization campaigns in India and other countries.
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.