A recent comprehensive cost analysis conducted across 84 vaccination clinics representing 11 administrative districts in Guangzhou provides critical insights into the economics of immunization service delivery. Using a top-down full cost method, the study examined labor, operational, and fixed asset depreciation costs—but notably excluded vaccine procurement. The findings showed that adult vaccination clinics bear substantially higher costs per dose (CNY 293.70; approx. US $41.66) and per person (CNY 433.96; approx. US $61.55), compared with much lower costs at routine vaccination clinics (per dose: CNY 64.88; per person: CNY 153.66) and rabies clinics (per dose: CNY 252.15; per person: CNY 867.13).
Across all vaccination units surveyed, labor costs accounted for the majority (75.0 %) of total delivery costs, followed by operational expenses (19.7 %) and fixed assets (5.3 %). Further, the study’s regression analyses shed light on key facility-level cost drivers: clinics with more staff per week tended to have higher service delivery costs, whereas privately operated clinics, those serving larger populations, open more days per week, or possessing moderate to large vaccination areas were associated with lower per-unit costs. These findings offer valuable guidance for optimizing resource allocation, improving accessibility across the life course, and informing policy design for more cost-efficient and equitable immunization programs.
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