Gross domestic product (GDP) has been shown to affect government spending on various budget heads including health care and the purchase and distribution of vaccines. A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMJ Global Health assesses the association of country income status and GDP with vaccination coverage of vaccines for childhood immunization and other major infectious diseases around the globe, and identifies factors influenced by GDP that affect access, distribution, and uptake of childhood vaccines around the world.
Data from 195 countries showed that the following infectious diseases had the highest burden; human papillomavirus (HPV), measles, Ebola, and yellow fever. Low-income and some lower-middle-income countries used COVAX and UNICEF for vaccine procurement while high-income countries preferred national and regional public tenders. Global vaccination coverage for tuberculosis, diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, polio, meningitis, and HPV had a significantly higher coverage than COVID-19. Being a high income country and having coverage data collected from 1985 to 2015 as the most current data were associated with high vaccination coverage. The percentage of GDP spent on vaccine procurement did not influence vaccination coverage.
Less developed countries should prioritize the enhancement of vaccine R&D capacity and the development and introduction of new vaccines and technologies.
Developed countries should publish information on vaccination coverage and expenditure and share new vaccine technologies.
Vaccine procurement platforms should do more to ensure global and national equitable access to vaccines.
Thumbnail image credit: Shutterstock / Chay_Tee
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.