This peer-reviewed research article published in Vaccine evaluates cost-effectiveness and health impact of alternative policies for provisioning rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in Tanzania, using empirical data from bite case management systems across multiple regions and a decision-tree modeling approach to simulate health and economic outcomes under different PEP strategies from a healthcare provider perspective.
Key findings
Current access to rabies PEP in Tanzania is estimated to avert approximately 6,000 rabies deaths from 2026–2030, yet an estimated 800 deaths occur annually under the status quo.
Expanded access to PEP, including free provision of vaccines, would increase uptake and is predicted to reduce rabies deaths by more than 40% over five years by increasing the number of patients initiating PEP.
Adding Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM) further reduces projected deaths and was highly cost-effective, at approximately $181 per death averted compared to current practice.
Decision modeling highlights that improving PEP access and delivery systems is critical to strengthen rabies prevention and accelerate progress toward eliminating human rabies deaths by 2030.
How can the findings be used?
This study’s findings can inform national policymakers, health economics analysts, and immunization program planners in Tanzania and similar rabies-endemic settings on the cost-effective design of PEP delivery strategies, and support investment cases to donors for expanding vaccine access and integrated bite management systems to prevent avoidable rabies deaths.
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